The story behind Valkko's removal goes far beyond a single character reveal, spanning multiple controversies and a deeply divided community.
Papergames probably didn't expect Love and Deepspace's newest wolf to head back to the forest before players even got to meet him. Valko's reveal quickly became one of the most talked-about moments in Love and Deepspace this year. But behind the memes and social media posts was a far more complex controversy that eventually led to the character's cancellation.
If you've only caught pieces of the discourse online, here's the full timeline of what went down.
Who is Valko in Love and Deepspace?
Valko was introduced as Love and Deepspace's sixth love interest and the game's third post-launch romance option. With the addition of Valko, Love and Deepspace's full list of love interests would be as follows:
- Xavier
- Rafayel
- Zayne
- Sylus
- Caleb
- Valko
Valko made his debut during the surprise "Supermoon Countdown" livestream on 22 June 2026. What initially appeared to be a routine broadcast covering a celestial event was interrupted by fictional emergency reports warning viewers about a mysterious beast roaming the city, before cutting to Valko's reveal trailer.
Valko was presented as both a corporate executive and a werewolf-like creature. His official description referred to him as "a creature of fangs and claws that hides within the concrete jungle", highlighting the contrast between his polished public identity and his more primal nature.
Players also quickly connected Valko to earlier story content. According to community discussions reported by LD Shop, he had reportedly been referenced in Worlds Underneath, and was believed by some players to be the unidentified figure using a voice-changing device while asking about Benedict during Rafayel and Xavier's main story content. Unlike Sylus or Caleb, however, Valko had never previously appeared on screen, or been directly named before his official reveal.
Love and Deepspace Valko controversy explained
The controversy surrounding Valko reportedly went far beyond his design. Over the week following his reveal, Chinese players raised several separate concerns involving the game's story, promotional material, and marketing, many of which Papergames later addressed in a public statement.
Experiment 0731 controversy
One of the earliest concerns centred around an in-game human experiment file bearing the number 0731.
According to discussions shared across X and Reddit, some Chinese players alleged that the number was an inappropriate reference to Unit 731, the Imperial Japanese Army unit responsible for human experimentation during World War II.
For historical context, according to Pacific Atrocities, Unit 731 was "infamous for its human experimentation" during World War II, with thousands of prisoners reportedly subjected to biological weapons research and other inhumane experiments.
In its statement to Chinese players, Papergames denied intentionally referencing Unit 731. The company said the number "0731" was generated as part of the game's fictional experiment numbering system and "has no connection whatsoever to any real historical events or organisations." Papergames apologised for the misunderstanding, and said it would adjust the relevant content to avoid causing further distress.
"Bringing a wolf into the house" controversy
Another controversy centred on the Chinese promotional phrase 引狼入室 (yǐn láng rù shì).
The phrase can be broken down as:
- 引 (yǐn): to lead or bring
- 狼 (láng): wolf
- 入 (rù): to enter
- 室 (shì): house or home
Taken literally, it translates to "bringing a wolf into the house." Figuratively, however, it refers to inviting danger, betrayal, or a hidden threat into one's own home or place of safety. Some Chinese players reportedly argued that using the idiom to market a romantic character was inappropriate, particularly given Love and Deepspace's predominantly female audience.
Papergames later addressed the wording in its statement, saying that the phrase was intended solely to reflect Valko's werewolf identity and "has no other meaning". The company nevertheless acknowledged the controversy, and announced that the text would be changed across future promotional materials.
"Iron Pot Wife" controversy
Another point of criticism centred on promotional copy used in Valko's preview trailer.
According to Redditor Feeling-Bell2954 on Reddit, the Chinese version of the promotional video included the tagline:
“丛林中有许多食材。享用前，请找到冒着热气的容器——即将进入「啸月狂欢夜」！”
The user translated the line as: "There are many ingredients in the jungle. Before enjoying, please find a steaming container..."
The post also noted that at 00:06, the screen displays "如果你在厨房" ("If you're in the kitchen"), while at 00:09 it reads "绝对不要在锅里洗澡" ("Rule No. 1: Never bathe in the pot").
Some Chinese players reportedly alleged that the wording evoked the so-called "Iron Pot Wife" case, a domestic violence murder that shocked China in 2024. According to reports, the victim, surnamed Wu, allegedly endured years of domestic abuse before being killed by her husband, who reportedly forced her head into a pot of boiling soup. The case sparked widespread public outrage and became a focal point in discussions surrounding violence against women in China.
Because of that association, some players criticised the promotional material for allegedly invoking imagery linked to a recent real-world tragedy in marketing for a romance game aimed primarily at women.
Papergames later acknowledged concerns surrounding several pieces of promotional copy in its statement, and apologised for the distress caused, adding that the relevant marketing materials would be reviewed and revised.
Chinese Women comments on the controversy
The discussion later expanded beyond the game's community after the organisation 中国妇女 (Chinese Women) publicly commented on the controversy.
According to the organisation, a promotional livestream on 28 June showed Valko, disguised as a werewolf, entering the home of a woman living alone before saying, “What's wrong with letting a wolf into the house?”
The post argued that Love and Deepspace's primary audience is women and that the game also has underage players in many regions. It questioned whether promotional material depicting a werewolf entering a woman living alone's home should have been used in that context, adding that such content should raise greater awareness around women's safety.
The comments reportedly brought additional public attention to the controversy, extending discussion beyond player communities and social media before Papergames released its official statement to Chinese players.
Existing player frustrations added to the Valko controversy
The controversy surrounding Valko also reportedly unfolded against a backdrop of broader dissatisfaction within the Love and Deepspace community. According to player discussions, frustration had already been building over the game's pace of content updates, resource distribution, and communication from the developers.
Papergames denies rumours about Valko
Beyond the promotional material, Papergames also denied several rumours circulating within the community. The company said claims that Valko was designed exclusively for overseas audiences were false, adding that the character had always been planned as part of the game's overall storyline. It also denied speculation that Love and Deepspace had shifted its focus away from the Chinese market, reiterating that it remained committed to all of its players.
Papergames further clarified that Valko's Chinese name and other creative decisions were developed internally as part of the game's original setting, rather than drawing inspiration from the real-world subjects raised during the controversy. The company concluded by apologising again for the hurt caused and promised to strengthen its internal review process for future content.
Why was Valko cancelled in Love and Deepspace?
Despite the statement and the planned changes, the controversy continued to escalate. Valko's reveal itself was also reportedly met with significant criticism from some Chinese players. The situation reportedly escalated further after Papergames installed a Valko-themed display outside its headquarters in China. According to a Reddit post summarising events, protesters allegedly left curse banners, pomelo leaves commonly used in cleansing rituals, funeral flowers, and even cow dung in the company's delivery lockers as demonstrations against the character.
Finally on 30 June, Papergames announced that development on Valko had been permanently terminated. In its announcement, the company apologised once again, telling players:
"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," the statement said.
Alongside the cancellation, Papergames announced that Love and Deepspace would not introduce any additional love interests beyond the current roster. While the decision surprised many players, the company said that it would instead focus on developing the existing characters and improving their content.
Global Love and Deepspace players launch petitions to bring Valko back
Valko's cancellation has sparked a strong reaction outside China, with many global players arguing that the character had been removed before they had the opportunity to experience his story.
Several petitions calling for Papergames to reverse the decision quickly appeared online. The largest campaign, "Bring Valko Back!" on Change.org, has gathered more than 72,000 signatures as of time of writing, with supporters calling on the developer to restore the character to the game.
Some overseas players also claimed they had already spent money on Valko-related experiences at the Los Angeles-set event Anime Expo before the cancellation was announced. Others reportedly discussed seeking refunds or possible legal action online:
@littleststaramy encouraged on X for players in the US to file a complaint in their specific states for “fraudulent advertising of both the game and the Anime Expo exhibit”. Amy also pointed out in a separate response that Genshin Impact was fined “for their loot box practices,” so it wouldn’t lead to server shutdowns.
“I have already contacted a class action and consumer protection lawyer! If we need to go by country/district, Canadians please contact me to be cc’d on any future developments in the law suit,” X user @zayneslihua said in response to the original thread.
While Valko's story has come to an end before it even began, the wider debate surrounding the controversy continues, with players across both the Chinese and global communities remaining divided over Papergames' decision.
