The popular otome game Love and Deepspace has been rocked by intense internal conflict. What began as excitement over a new love interest quickly escalated into a deeply divided community, with players clashing over design choices, content priorities, and developer decisions. The result was the permanent cancellation of the character Valko, followed by a wave of petitions demanding his return.

The Announcement That Divided Players

On June 22, 2026, developers Paper Games and publisher Infold Games revealed Valko during a livestream for Version 6.0. The 26-year-old werewolf clan leader and EonCore Technologies CEO was set to become the game’s sixth romanceable male lead, debuting on July 9.

Valko stood out with his feral personality, distinctive red hair, wolf-inspired features, and a powerful Metallization Evol ability. Trailers showcased his direct, whimsically untamed side alongside new features like a kitchen for dates and an AR photobooth.

Many global fans welcomed the addition as fresh energy for the sci-fi romance title. Existing love interests include Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, and Caleb. However, the reveal triggered immediate pushback, especially from segments of the Chinese player base on Weibo.

Reasons Behind the Backlash

Critics raised several concerns:

  • Design and style clash — Valko’s werewolf aesthetic and visual presentation felt inconsistent with the game’s established art direction for the other leads.
  • Lack of buildup — The character arrived without prior story integration or narrative lead-in.
  • Resource concerns — Players argued that the main storyline had gone over 500 days without a major update. Several existing love interests still lacked new Bond Chapters or meaningful content. Adding another lead, they feared, would further split developer attention and resources.
  • Backstory ties — Some took issue with connections between Valko’s company and the antagonistic EVER organization.

The backlash grew rapidly. The game’s Weibo comments section filled with hundreds of thousands of negative posts. App store ratings dropped sharply. Social media accounts lost followers, and some players organized boycotts. Reports surfaced of extreme protests, including cow dung left at company locations.

Developer Response and Cancellation

Paper Games first issued an apology around June 28, offering free pulls as compensation while keeping the July 9 launch plan in place. Dissatisfaction persisted.

On June 30, the team announced a complete reversal. In an official statement posted on X, they wrote:

“We have decided to cancel both the launch and any further development of the new love interest. We also commit that no additional love interests will be introduced in future content plans.”

They expressed regret: “Because of our actions, the joy you should have found in Linkon City became a source of distress, and the feelings you hold most dear were hurt. We are deeply sorry for the hurt and disappointment we have caused.”

Version 6.0 will still launch on July 9 with other planned features, including Home 2.0 and AR photobooth enhancements. Players will receive free rewards originally tied to Valko’s event. Future efforts will focus on stories and companionship for the existing five love interests, with specific updates promised for Rafayel, Caleb, and Sylus later in the year. Daily premium currency rewards were also added for 30 days.

A Fandom Torn Apart

The cancellation deepened existing rifts. What some described as a “civil war” erupted across Discord servers, Reddit, Twitter/X, and other platforms.

One faction, largely aligned with the vocal critics, celebrated the decision. They viewed it as a necessary step to protect the core experience and prioritize long-neglected content for established characters.

The opposing side, heavily represented among global players, expressed shock and betrayal. Many had already prepared fanart, saved pulls, and built anticipation for Valko. They accused developers of caving to bullying and threats from a loud minority rather than balancing feedback across regions. Accusations of toxicity flew in both directions, with some players feeling the precedent set a dangerous example: loud complaints could now derail planned content.

The divide highlighted ongoing tensions in the fandom, including debates over content pacing, regional differences in player expectations, and how developers should handle criticism.

Petitions Emerge to Bring Valko Back

Almost immediately after the cancellation announcement, global fans launched online petitions urging Infold and Paper Games to reconsider.

One prominent petition on iPetitions, titled “Bring back Valko as a love interest as it was intended,” quickly gathered over 126,000 signatures. It argues that Valko was part of the original vision for the game and that removing him after teasers and marketing harms player trust and the overall experience. Supporters emphasize that many players across regions, including some in China, wanted to see the character developed properly. They call for the team to listen to the broader fanbase rather than one side of the debate.

Similar petitions appeared on other platforms, with fans sharing stories of lost motivation and emotional investment.

Looking Ahead

The Valko saga has left Love and Deepspace at a crossroads. While Version 6.0 promises new systems and rewards for existing players, the long-term impact on community trust remains uncertain. Developers have committed to deeper focus on the current cast, which may satisfy one group but leaves others disappointed.

For now, the petitions continue to circulate, and online discussions show no signs of slowing. Whether Valko will ever return in some form, or if the game can heal the rifts within its passionate community, is still unknown. One thing is clear: the drama has reminded everyone how deeply players care about the characters and stories in Love and Deepspace.