Love and Deepspace Players Push Back as Valko Is Kept Out of Update

Even after a determined push from players, the team behind the romance game Love and Deepspace appears ready to stand by its call to keep Valko out of the newest update—for now. Valko, who was originally slated to arrive on July 9, was removed after a loud wave of negative reactions from part of the Chinese player community. In response, players worldwide organized on social media, shared fan art, and raised money for charitable causes in Valko’s name, hoping those efforts would persuade the team to bring him in on schedule.

When the update went live, many fans quickly realized Valko still wasn’t added. On the character selection screen, the area where a “coming soon” indicator used to appear was replaced with an empty slot. Reactions have swung from devastated to furious, while others remain optimistic and are urging the campaign to continue. At the same time, there are also unverified rumors and “leaks” circulating online, including claims about how Valko would have fit into the game’s story, plus chatter that certain scenes are being toned down or censored due to suggestive content.

Some players framed the situation as a fandom-driven backlash, arguing that vocal opposition to Valko spiraled into broader problems—pointing to censorship, a disrupted release plan, and the idea that the update feels pointless. In the same vein, at least one fan expressed that the change has harmed what they consider a special experience, saying they’re devastated by how things turned out.

Others took a different tone, emphasizing gratitude toward fans who supported Valko and stood up for a character the studio created. They also highlighted that money raised went toward wolf conservation efforts, with additional goodwill generated along the way. Beyond the donations, they credited the community for sharing a large volume of art, writing, discussions, and—above all—showing love.

Online arguments have also become sharply divided. One side has claimed they’ve seen harassment and bullying directed at people connected to the project, including insults and disruptive behavior. Another group has countered by describing a more positive campaign: donating to shelters, posting large promotional displays, and sharing gifts like flowers and chocolate, alongside messages about affection for Chinese culture and Valko himself. The hashtag-style sentiment “love is stronger than hate #bringbackvalko” has become a rallying cry for that support.

While the developer had not shared anything on its official X account since July 1, it finally broke the silence last night. This time, the post focused on problems some users reported when downloading the new update.

The broader Valko decision traces back to June 30, when the team announced it had halted the character’s addition—just a week after Valko was revealed. The reveal itself came after a teaser period that had hinted at his arrival. In an official message to players, the studio said it was cutting Valko and also stated that “No additional love interests will be introduced in future content plans.”

At present, the game has five love interests, and Valko was intended to be the sixth. His planned arrival was tied to the Version 6 update, alongside changes to the Home 2.0 and AR Photobooth features. Content that had been intended as rewards for a Valko-focused “Hunt In Linkon” event was instead redirected: players were set to receive the planned rewards for the event for free through in-game mail, along with free “Deepspace Wishes.”

In the studio’s statement, the team said it had revisited recent events and acknowledged it moved forward with Valko “before we were truly ready.” It also said that decision let down players who had supported the game from the beginning, and that the team fell short of delivering the experience players who were anticipating Valko deserved.

What else fueled the controversy around Valko

Some fans believe the situation was made more complicated by intervention from Chinese authorities. A statement from the Ministry of Public Security News and Media criticized a scene from the game’s marketing that showed Valko appearing on the main character’s balcony. The message argued that this kind of entertainment- and traffic-driven creative content ignores public order and morality, crosses legal boundaries, and could ultimately threaten public safety.

Even with the controversy, many players pointed out that Love and Deepspace has previously helped them learn about Chinese mythology and culture through in-game events and storylines.

As the discussion continues, the studio has canceled fan events in both China and Japan. It also issued another apology through the official Love and Deepspace account on Xiaohongshu (RedNote).

Where the game stands now: love interest lineup and release history

With Valko seemingly paused indefinitely, the game appears set to keep its current lineup of five love interests for the foreseeable future. The title launched in January 2024 with three: Rayfael, Xavier, and Zayne. Sylus joined the roster in July 2024, and Caleb arrived in January 2025. Earlier, AppMagic reported that the game had surpassed 31 million downloads and that user spending had exceeded $1 billion.

Fan Tribute to Love and Deepspace’s Valko

The community’s response has included large-scale tributes and charitable efforts that fans say were never about winning an argument, but about celebrating the character and the culture surrounding him. Supporters have emphasized donations to wolf conservation centers, the amount of fan-created art and written work that circulated, and the many conversations that formed around Valko. Meanwhile, supporters continue to push the “bring him back” message as they wait to see whether the studio changes its mind about future love interest plans.

Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She’s been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.