The controversy surrounding the mobile dating simulator Love and Deepspace has taken a significant turn, with the game's developer, Papergames, facing increased pressure following an official statement from the Chinese government. The dispute centers on the swift removal of Valko, the game's intended sixth love interest, after his introduction sparked widespread debate.
Papergames announced it would withdraw its presence from BilliBilli World 2026, a major anime and gaming convention. This decision follows an earlier, similarly vacant booth at Anime Expo that had been allocated for a Valko cosplayer. The developer issued a statement acknowledging the "significant distress to all players and creating a negative impact," expressing remorse and a commitment to self-reflection and cultural adherence. The company stated, "We will conduct comprehensive personnel training, self-examination, and rectification, using reverence for history, protection of national sentiment, and inheritance of Chinese culture as our benchmark."
Disagreement over Valko's inclusion appears to be split between segments of the game's fanbase. Chinese players have largely voiced opposition, citing several reasons: Valko allegedly detracts from the main storyline and existing characters, his design reportedly clashes with Chinese beauty standards, and his promotional slogans, such as "What's wrong with letting a wolf into the house?" could be interpreted as condoning trespassing and sexual assault.
This latter point was specifically addressed by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security's News and Media division. In an official post, the ministry criticized an "online game targeting female players" for featuring a storyline where the male protagonist enters a woman's home late at night, alongside "offensive promotional slogans." The government characterized this as packaging illegal trespassing as a romantic encounter, disregarding public order and morality, and potentially endangering public safety. The statement warned that such content, if it blurs lines between legality and entertainment, could face legal sanctions.
The ministry further cited a 2018 case where a teenager addicted to a violent video game committed murder, using it as an example of how ethically questionable game content can negatively impact young people. The post concluded that while the "relevant characters and storylines in the game have been taken offline for rectification," deeper reflection is necessary for the industry.
With the Chinese government's intervention, the future of Valko in Love and Deepspace appears increasingly uncertain. The incident may also bring heightened scrutiny to other aspects of the game, including the character Caleb, who interrogates the player, and Sylus, who embodies dark romance tropes as the head of a criminal organization. Despite a petition to reinstate Valko nearing 250,000 signatures, the intensified controversy and official governmental stance suggest a difficult path forward for Papergames.