Papergames avlyser Valko etter massiv kjærlighet og Deepspace-motreaksjoner

Just days after attempting to ease the growing Love and Deepspacecontroversy, Papergames has made a dramatic reversal by canceling the release of Valko (Ao Yin), the character originally planned to become the game's sixth male love interest. The decision comes after weeks of escalating backlash that expanded far beyond character design, drawing criticism over cultural sensitivity, historical references, and promotional content.

Alongside Valko's cancellation, the studio confirmed that its future story roadmap has been revised. No additional romance options will be introduced, meaning the game's current five male protagonists will remain the only love interests moving forward.

Unit 731 References Spark Major Backlash

While the initial criticism focused on Valko's more Western-inspired werewolf appearance, many longtime players argued that the controversy escalated for a much more serious reason.

Players discovered an in-game file labeled 0731, which many associated with Unit 731, the infamous Imperial Japanese military unit responsible for biological warfare and human experimentation during World War II.

According to community reports, the same storyline allegedly included additional references involving injections, endurance testing, and forced control, further fueling concerns among players.

Papergames stated that the number was simply a placeholder with no intended historical meaning. However, the explanation failed to satisfy many fans, and the controversy reportedly attracted coverage from several Chinese media outlets.

Home 2.0 Promotion Draws Additional Criticism

A second wave of criticism centered on promotional material for Home 2.0, which featured Valko.

Some players argued that the teaser portrayed themes related to unlawful intrusion and women's personal safety in a romanticized way. According to reports, Chinese state media also criticized the campaign, suggesting it presented potentially dangerous behavior as part of an idealized romantic fantasy.

Papergames later removed the promotional content, explaining that its message had been misunderstood.

Papergames Cancels Valko and Revises Future Plans

In response to the growing controversy, Papergames issued another public apology and confirmed that Valko's release has been permanently canceled.

The developer also announced that future story content has been rewritten, abandoning plans to introduce any additional love interests and instead focusing entirely on expanding the stories of the existing five protagonists.

Despite these changes, previously announced Version 6.0 features—including Home 2.0, the AR Photobooth, and upcoming Memory events—will continue as planned.

To compensate players, Papergames will distribute 30 free Deepspace Wishes over the course of 30 days.

Community Reaction Remains Divided

Although the studio has apologized multiple times and significantly altered its long-term roadmap, community reaction remains mixed.

Many players welcomed the renewed focus on the existing cast, while others expressed disappointment that major story content had been canceled or rewritten as a result of the controversy.

With reported declines in social media followers, widespread criticism, and one of the biggest development reversals in the game's history, Papergames now faces the difficult task of rebuilding trust within the Love and Deepspace community. Whether these changes will be enough to restore player confidence remains to be seen.