The Love and Deepspace community has been through a whirlwind of emotions in the span of a single week.
On June 28, the hit mobile otome game announced Ver. 6.0, which was set to introduce Valko—the sixth and newest love interest. The company promoted his arrival across social media and even booked a Times Square billboard in New York running from June 26 to July 2. Excitement was at an all-time high, with players who had been anticipating Valko for months reinstalling the game in preparation.
Then, just two days later, everything changed.
The Announcement
On June 30, Love and Deepspace posted a lengthy letter addressed to “Miss Hunters,” explaining the decision to cancel Valko’s launch and development:
“As various issues have arisen in recent days, we have moved quickly to make the necessary adjustments. After reflecting on recent events, we recognize that we moved forward with the introduction of Valko before we were truly ready. In doing so, we let down the players who have supported us from the start, and we also fell short of delivering the experience that players anticipating Valko deserved.”
The letter went on to confirm that no additional love interests would be added to the game’s content plans moving forward, and that the team would instead focus on developing stories and long-term companionship with the five existing love interests.
The Backlash
The internet was swift to respond. International players lamented the sudden decision, with many sharing that they had reinstalled the game specifically for Valko’s addition.
Reports leaked on social media that Chinese players had expressed outrage over Valko’s design—claiming he was “too Westernized”—and allegedly sent cow dung and funeral wreaths to Paper Games’ office in China.
However, Chinese netizens pointed out that fans also raised valid concerns. These included a reference to Unit 731, the covert biological warfare unit operated by the Japanese Imperial Army from 1936 to 1945. International players rebutted that this reference actually began in Xavier’s storyline, not Valko’s. Additional concerns were raised about Valko breaking into MC’s home, with some interpreting the scene as suggestive of sexual assault.
Hope on the Horizon
Despite the cancellation, fans of the game have united online to show their love for Valko and hope that developer InFold/Paper Games will reverse their decision. Efforts include:
- A Change.org petition
- A memorial for Valko placed at Anime Expo 2026
- Continued content creation on Xiaohongshu
Importantly, it’s not just international fans getting involved—Chinese fans are also making their voices heard, and it seems their efforts may be paying off. A recent post on X revealed that Chinese users are now receiving actual replies from customer service representatives instead of canned responses.
The Bottom Line
This is a developing story, and while Valko’s future remains uncertain, there are signs that Paper Games may be listening. The Love and Deepspace community has proven that when fans mobilize, they can make an impact. Whether Valko ultimately returns or remains a footnote in otome history, one thing is clear: players want to be heard—and they’re not going quietly.
Source: X (formerly Twitter), Xiaohongshu, Change.org,
