Love and Deepspace Faces Its Toughest Month Yet Amid Ongoing Controversy

Since its launch in 2024, the romance gacha game Love and Deepspace has captured the hearts of players, becoming a major success for its developer. Fans have eagerly spent real money on its charming characters, but recent developments have taken a toll on its popularity. New statistics reveal that Love and Deepspace’s revenue has plummeted to an all-time low, likely linked to a significant controversy that has emerged.

Recent reports indicate that the game generated just over $10 million in July, a stark contrast to the nearly $40 million it earned in June. Prior to this decline, the game’s revenue had never dipped below $30 million. This sudden drop coincides with the controversy surrounding the cancellation of a new character, Valko.

In June, the developer introduced Valko as a new love interest set to debut in Version 6.0 on July 9, marking the sixth character in the game. However, the announcement sparked division within the community. A segment of fans, particularly from China, felt that adding another love interest overlooked the need for substantial updates to existing characters. The backlash against Valko escalated to the point where some frustrated fans reportedly sent cow dung to the developer’s offices. Just eight days after his reveal, on June 30, the developer announced the cancellation of Valko and any future love interests.

This decision ignited a strong backlash from another faction of the community, mainly international players, who felt that the developer was prioritizing the preferences of Chinese fans. The phrase “Bring back Valko” began trending on social media, and several petitions were launched to persuade the developer to reconsider the cancellation, at least for international servers. During Anime Expo 2026, shortly after Valko’s cancellation, fans even created a memorial for the character.

The situation escalated further when the Chinese government intervened, issuing an official statement criticizing Valko and the perception that his storyline glorified inappropriate themes. This concern had already been voiced by the Chinese player base before the character’s cancellation. The government warned that any game that intentionally crosses legal boundaries would face removal. While the developer has not provided any updates regarding Valko’s future, it appears he may be gone for good. This entire situation has led to many dissatisfied fans leaving the game, and the developer is now feeling the financial repercussions of the controversy.

The Valko incident underscores the rift within the player base of this gacha romance game.