Love and Deepspace Fans Tearfully Hold ‘Funeral’ for Valko at Infold HQ After Company Suddenly Drops Character
Love and Deepspace fans are grieving the sudden cancellation of Valko, a highly anticipated new romance character, just days before his scheduled release.
Valko, a werewolf CEO character announced on June 22, was set to debut on July 9 as part of Version 6.0 of the gacha romance game as the game’s sixth love interest overall, but only the third released since the game’s 2024 launch. However, developer Papergames abruptly canceled the character on June 30 following fan backlash over elements of his announcement.
The cancellation has sparked an outpouring of player grief and protest. Chinese players from Love and Deepspace have gathered outside Papergames’ Shanghai headquarters, creating makeshift memorials complete with flowers, candles, and handwritten tributes to the character. Videos of tearful fans mourning Valko’s removal have circulated widely on social media, with players expressing genuine emotional attachment to a character they had been excited to romance.
In response to the developer’s decision, the community has organized a formal petition campaign demanding that Papergames reverse the cancellation and restore Valko to the game. The “bring back Valko” movement reflects broader tensions within the Love and Deepspace community regarding character representation and development decisions.