Fan Outcry Leads to Cancellation of New Character in Beloved Romance Game

Eight days after introducing a new character, the team behind the otome game Love and Deepspace has decided to halt development on that character. Valko, who was set to be the sixth love interest in this romance gacha game, faced significant backlash, prompting the studio to retract its plans.

Valko was unveiled in a trailer shared on the game’s official YouTube channel on June 22. He was portrayed as the chairman of EonCore Tech and the enigmatic leader of a werewolf clan, with a planned launch in Version 6.0 on July 9. This would have marked the first new love interest since Caleb was introduced in Version 3.0 back in January 2025. However, the initial response to Valko’s announcement was overwhelmingly negative.

The backlash arose from players feeling that introducing a new love interest was misguided, especially since the existing characters had not received significant updates in quite some time. Many feared that the focus on new characters would overshadow the development of older ones. Following Valko’s reveal, the game’s social media accounts reportedly saw a significant drop in followers and were inundated with negative comments. Some frustrated fans even resorted to protests, including placing cow dung in company lockers, according to reports.

In light of the fan response, the developers announced that Valko’s development has been permanently canceled. They expressed regret, stating, “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.”

Alongside the cancellation of Valko, the studio has committed to not introducing any additional love interests in the future. While this may seem counterintuitive for a game centered around new characters, it could actually be a positive move. Fans had been vocal about the lack of meaningful updates for existing love interests, so this shift may allow for a deeper exploration of the current cast.

The announcement also detailed how the creators plan to address the backlash. While Valko’s development is scrapped, all other features slated for Version 6.0 will proceed as planned. Outfits, photo poses, and the Nighthush Box, originally intended as rewards for a Valko-themed event, will now be distributed to players for free. Additionally, for the next 30 days, players will receive one Deepspace Wish daily, which can be used in the game’s gacha system. The developer has also pledged to focus on enhancing the current love interests and the main storyline. Upcoming updates include:

Rafayel’s new Solar-Slot Memories and Companion will be revealed in July, while Farspace Colonel Caleb and Onychinus Leader Sylus will return in their Main Story branches in September and November, respectively.

Love and Deepspace is available on Android and iOS devices, with Version 6.0 set to launch on July 9.

It’s an intriguing concept, but will players embrace it?