Mobile dating sim Love and Deepspace has experienced a dramatic downturn in revenue, falling from an estimated $38 million in June to just $10 million in July, according to data from Gacharevenue. This represents the game's worst financial performance in the past year and has raised concerns about its long-term viability.
Valko Boycott Dampens Spending
A central factor contributing to the revenue drop is the ongoing controversy surrounding the character Valko. A vocal segment of the player base, particularly within the English-speaking Discord community, has initiated a boycott, refusing to spend money until developers at Papergames address issues related to the character's planned content. Some players have publicly shared screenshots of substantial savings, indicating their commitment to withholding funds in what has been described as a "gacha hostage exchange."
Content Drought and Player Dissatisfaction
Beyond the Valko boycott, Love and Deepspace is also grappling with a perceived lack of new content, which is alienating its broader player base. The game's last major event, featuring characters in updated classic movie outfits, concluded at the beginning of July. Since then, players have experienced reruns of older content and a significant gap before the next new event. While developers have attempted to appease players with free in-game items, this has not offset the lack of substantial new material.
The upcoming content event is also drawing criticism for focusing on only one character, leaving fans of the other four with little to engage with. Furthermore, the main story has not been updated in months, and a promised new story arc for the love interest Rafayel, expected in July, has yet to be released. This persistent failure to deliver new content, coupled with the Valko controversy, has left many players questioning the game's ongoing value and whether it is worth their continued investment.