Developer Infold has canceled the planned introduction of Valko, a new romantic interest in the hit otome game Love and Deepspace, reversing course just days before the character's scheduled release.
Valko was set to arrive on July 9 as the centerpiece of Version 6.0, a major update called A Shattered Quiet. The decision to scrap the character came after significant backlash from the Chinese player community, prompting Infold to issue an official apology.
"After reflecting on recent events, we recognize that we moved forward with the introduction of Valko before we were truly ready," the studio stated. "In doing so, we let down the players who have supported us from the start, and we also fell short of delivering the experience that players anticipating Valko deserved."
The cancellation marks an unusual retreat for a major mobile game, but Infold cushioned the blow by committing to other components of the update. Home 2.0 and an AR Photobooth feature will still launch as planned. Players will receive the in-game rewards that were originally tied to Valko's Hunt In Linkon event for free via mail, plus complimentary Deepspace Wishes currency.
Going forward, the studio said it would concentrate on deepening the narratives around Love and Deepspace's five existing love interests: Rafayel, Xavier, Zayne, Sylus, and Caleb. The game will also maintain steady releases of main story content.
The decision has struck a different chord with the North American fanbase, where enthusiasm for Valko remains high. Players stateside have launched a petition demanding that Infold release the character on the global version of the game, which has already gathered 42,000 signatures.
Love and Deepspace, which debuted in January with three romance options, has become one of mobile gaming's surprise hits. The title brought in a third love interest in July 2024 and a fourth in January 2025. As of last May, the game had surpassed 31 million downloads with player spending exceeding $1 billion.
Author Emily Chen: "Infold had to make the call, but canceling a character days before launch suggests the team wasn't listening closely enough to its community in the first place."
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