Love And Deepspace’s Biggest Controversy Is Now Hitting Its Wallet
Love and Deepspace, a dating gacha simulator released in 2024 by Papergames, experienced its worst financial performance to date in July 2026. The game generated just $10.3 million in revenue—a catastrophic 73% decline from June’s $38–40 million, marking the first time monthly earnings fell below the previously sustained $30–60 million range.
The revenue collapse directly correlates with a major player controversy centered on the announcement and subsequent cancellation of Valko, a planned sixth love interest character. Intensive fan backlash prompted Papergames to cancel the character entirely, triggering significant player discontent that manifested as dramatically reduced spending. This incident represents the most substantial controversy Love and Deepspace has faced since its 2024 launch.
The decline underscores how player satisfaction and perceived value remain critical to gacha game sustainability, even for previously successful titles. The timing is notable against competitive pressures from rival gacha publishers. HoyoVerse’s titles—Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero—continue to command strong revenue, with Zenless Zone Zero particularly robust. Love and Deepspace’s July figures suggest that community relations and alignment with player expectations directly impact monetization in the live-service gacha space.