The Lore & History of Valko

In-Game Presence & The Reveal

• Valko was intended to be the game's sixth love interest, and the third to be added post-launch.
• Prior to his reveal, players speculated he was referenced in "Worlds Underneath".
• Many believed he was the unidentified figure using a voice-changing device who asked about Benedict during Xavier and Rafayel's main story segments.
• He made his grand debut during the surprise "Supermoon Countdown" livestream on June 22, 2026.
• The broadcast initially appeared to be covering a routine celestial event but was interrupted by fictional emergency reports warning of a mysterious beast roaming the city, which led into his reveal trailer.

The Controversy

Before he could be released in the Version 6.0 "A Shattered Quiet" update on July 9, 2026, Infold Games (Papergames) permanently cancelled him on June 30, 2026. The cancellation was driven by severe backlash, primarily from the Chinese player base, over several sensitive issues.

• Players alleged that a number used in promotional materials was an inappropriate reference to Unit 731, the Imperial Japanese Army unit responsible for WWII human experimentation.
• A promotional phrase used for the character, "引狼入室" (translating to "bringing a wolf into the house"), drew heavy criticism. While figuratively meaning to invite danger, players felt it was highly inappropriate for marketing a romantic character.
• The Chinese Government allegedly became involved, scrutinizing the slogans for potentially promoting home intrusions and sexual assault.
• Some players even connected the marketing wording to the 2024 "Iron Pot Wife" case, a shocking domestic violence murder in China.
• Additionally, some fans were simply frustrated, citing concerns that a new character would take developer attention away from the game's established love interests and main story.

The Aftermath & Global Protests

Following the cancellation, Papergames announced that they would not introduce any additional love interests beyond the current roster. The fallout from this controversy had huge financial and social repercussions for the developers.

• Infold Games experienced a massive 73% drop in revenue compared to June 2026, falling by an estimated $38 million.
• The developer pulled its booth from Bilibili World 2026, one of the largest gaming and anime conventions in Asia.
• In Shanghai, Chinese fans gathered outside the Papergames office to hold a funeral for Valko, bringing flowers, photos, and chocolates to mourn the character.
• Western fans protested at Anime Expo 2026, setting up shrines, handing out "Missing Dog" posters, and carrying signs demanding to "Bring Back Valko".
• A massive fan-made shrine called the "Valko Oshikatsu" grew outside the Anime Expo venue, filled with tribute notes and handmade merchandise.