One player has decided to uninstall the romance game Love and Deepspace, citing a series of events that have diminished their enjoyment and trust in the developer, Infold, and its studio, Papergames. The decision comes after a disappointing anniversary event and the subsequent removal of a newly introduced character, Valko.
The player recounts attending Love and Deepspace's second-anniversary event earlier this year, an experience they found underwhelming. They observed that fans waiting outside in cold weather were met with only a trailer and cardboard cutouts, which they felt was a disservice to dedicated players. More concerningly, a representative allegedly asked the journalist to avoid showcasing male characters in their coverage to prevent the perception of the game supporting same-sex relationships. This request caused discomfort, and the player felt increased scrutiny during the event after voicing their hesitation.
This incident, coupled with the subsequent controversy surrounding Valko, the game's sixth love interest, has led to the player's disillusionment. The initial rollout of Valko was met with complaints, with some players citing issues with his appearance and frustration over the perceived lack of focus on the main story. However, the situation escalated with two specific criticisms. One involved an in-game document referencing a human experiment, labeled A-0731, which some Chinese critics believed was a veiled reference to Unit 731, a historical Japanese army unit. Infold denied the connection and apologized, stating the document number would be changed.
The second, more prominent issue, centered on Valko's taglines, particularly those related to "letting a wolf into the house." These were interpreted by some players as condoning trespassing and assault, a stark contrast to the game's exploration of taboo and possessive relationships common in the romance genre. This perceived offense led to players placing items like feces and mourning flowers outside Infold's offices in China.
In response to the backlash and harassment campaign, Infold and Papergames announced the deletion of Valko and vowed to cease work on future love interests. An update was released on July 9, removing any indication of Valko's planned appearance from the game's character menu. The studios have since issued numerous apologies across their social media platforms. The player expressed disappointment in these decisions, viewing them as a capitulation to pressure rather than genuine engagement with player feedback.
The cumulative effect of these events has eroded the player's trust and desire to remain part of the Love and Deepspace community. After two years of playing, the player has uninstalled the game, citing the loss of joy in the game's world and characters, and a diminished faith in the game's future direction. The player noted that Love and Deepspace was one of the few mainstream games designed specifically for women, and its ending still brings a sense of loss for the characters and the community they were a part of.