Switchback Springs

I want to explain what the Chinese Love and Deepspace community is going through right now.

This is not simply about “players disliking a new male lead,” nor is it just ordinary fandom drama. For many Chinese players, this public backlash is the result of long-accumulated frustration, disappointment, and a complete collapse of trust.

Love and Deepspace is an otome game. Otome games are not ordinary products. They do not simply sell storylines, combat systems, or gacha pulls. They sell emotional bonds, companionship, intimacy, a sense of uniqueness, and emotional safety. Players invest not only money, but also time, love, and genuine feelings. Because of this, an otome game company should understand female players’ boundaries, emotions, and dignity better than anyone.

However, Infold/Paper Games’ long-term operation has made many players feel that their emotions have been consumed and exploited. The main stories of existing love interests have stagnated. Core player demands have gone unanswered for a long time. Resource distribution feels imbalanced. Conflict within the community has continued to intensify, forcing players into endless fights with one another. Many players believe that this kind of community environment did not form naturally, but was tolerated, enabled, and even used in long-term operations to maintain attention and spending.

This crisis fully erupted because of two extremely serious issues.

First, the game’s story content included a human drug trial / experiment record labeled “A-0731.” For Chinese players, 731 is not an ordinary number. It immediately brings to mind Unit 731 of the Japanese invading army, as well as human experimentation, war crimes, and deep national historical trauma. What makes this even more ironic is that the official response claimed the number was a “fictional date” or a “meaningless placeholder.” But in the game, it appeared as an experiment record number; in the statement, it was explained as a date. If it was a record number, why explain it as a date? If it was a date, why was it placed inside a human drug trial record? No matter which explanation is used, it shows a serious failure in content review and historical sensitivity.

Second, promotional material for the new male lead used the phrase “What’s wrong with inviting a wolf into the house?” while showing the character entering a woman’s private space. In Chinese, “引狼入室” is originally a warning phrase. It means bringing danger into one’s own home. Yet Infold/Paper Games packaged this real-world safety boundary, something women are constantly warned to protect, as flirtation and romance. For an otome game mainly marketed toward female players, this is not just a “wolf-themed male lead” issue. It is a disregard for women’s sense of safety and personal boundaries.

What hurt players even more was the company’s later “serious statement.” Instead of truly reassuring players, it admitted that content would be changed and review procedures would be strengthened, while also emphasizing that some people were “maliciously spreading rumors,” “misleading public opinion,” and “smearing” the company, even implying potential legal action. Players do not support fabricated rumors. But normal complaints, refunds, negative reviews, boycotts, stopping logins, and public questioning are not malicious smearing. Mixing legitimate consumer rights protection with rumor-mongering is itself a second injury to players.

That is why many Chinese players are now stopping spending, stopping logins, requesting refunds, lowering App Store ratings, writing formal complaint emails, and refusing to buy merchandise. This is not a sudden emotional outburst. It is players finally deciding that they will no longer pay for disrespect, excuses, and intimidation.

Behind these actions, there is very real heartbreak.

Many Chinese players are not leaving coldly. They are saying goodbye to the characters they deeply loved. Some danced one last dance with their beloved through tears. Some filled the Home system with calla lilies, as if holding a funeral for the trust they once had. Some bought countless bottles of body wash in-game as a silent protest. Some let Rafayel fall asleep, then quietly logged out and left the game. Some girls wrote one final letter to Rafayel in their personal journals.

They know that from now on, they will have to face Infold/Paper Games, a huge corporation. They are fighting for their consumer rights. They are fighting for the dignity of otome players. And they are also fighting for the characters they love.

For many players, this is no longer an ordinary controversy. It is a disaster-level event in the history of otome games.

Please do not simplify this as “Chinese players refusing to accept a new character.” The situation is far more serious than that.

This is about women’s sense of safety being turned into entertainment.

This is about national historical trauma being handled carelessly.

This is about otome players’ emotions being consumed for too long.

This is about a company that grew powerful through female players’ love and money choosing PR language and intimidation instead of taking real responsibility when facing reasonable player demands.

Players are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for respect, transparency, accountability, and the most basic moral sensitivity.

This is not a misunderstanding.