Fans of the mobile romance game Love and Deepspace are continuing to rally for the reinstatement of the character Valko, a werewolf who was recently removed from the game's upcoming content. The response has escalated beyond online petitions, with dedicated fans organizing real-world tributes and large-scale community projects.
One such tribute materialized at Anime Expo, where fan Kurina established a physical memorial for Valko. The display, which began with notes and gifts, quickly expanded as Love and Deepspace players contributed their own tokens of affection and sadness. Kurina was inspired by similar fan actions in China, where players had visited the game's studio to leave flowers and gifts for Valko's promotional materials. "Seeing that really moved me," Kurina told IGN. "Then I remembered that at Anime Expo 2025 someone had made a Jinu shrine, and I thought, 'Wait... we need to do one for Valko.'"
What started as a personal project rapidly evolved into a communal gathering space. Visitors not only left contributions but also engaged in conversations, sharing their personal reactions to Valko's removal and connecting with fellow fans. "Every time I walked by, someone was there reading the notes, leaving chocolate or drawings, or simply standing there quietly. It slowly became a place where people gathered to talk about Love and Deepspace," Kurina explained.
This grassroots support extends beyond the Anime Expo tribute. A petition advocating for Valko's return has garnered over 29,000 signatures. Fans have also commissioned LED billboard space in cities like Malaysia and New York to display Valko-related footage, with further plans for global installations. In one instance, a fan named Lunarmizuki organized a fundraiser for a wolf charity in China, raising over $1200 in Valko's name. Other fans are participating by creating fan art, boycotting in-game purchases, and driving streams of Valko's official theme song, "Tameless Territory," on platforms like Spotify.
For many fans, Valko represented a significant and anticipated addition to the game's cast. "He was going to be the first new love interest introduced for many of us. We were excited to learn about him, experience his story, create fan art, and welcome him into the community," Kurina stated. She also highlighted the perceived level of detail and care Infold invests in its characters, making the cancellation particularly disheartening. "It wasn't just about losing a character. It felt like losing something we had all been looking forward to together."
The sentiment extends to personal impact as well. Kurina noted that Love and Deepspace has served as a catalyst for her own creative endeavors, reinforcing her passion for gaming and content creation. The fan tributes have become a testament to the community's creativity, with fans expressing their love through various forms of art and engagement.
Following Anime Expo, Kurina and other community members are working to preserve the messages and mementos left at the tribute, aiming to create a lasting keepsake. "I want people to know that what they left at the tribute mattered and that their messages won't be forgotten," she said.
There has been no official word from Infold regarding the fan campaign's potential success. Players are awaiting potential news on July 9, the date Valko was originally slated for debut.