Fans leave funeral flowers and cow dung at Papergames HQ

Fans of Papergames’ otome sim Love and Deepspace left white and yellow chrysanthemums, cow dung and ritual items at the developer’s headquarters after the studio revealed Ao Yin, the game’s sixth male romance option and installed a large promotional display outside its office.

Reports say the game’s official Chinese social media accounts lost about one million followers after the reveal. The online backlash then moved into the real world, with items placed around the display and in the company’s delivery lockers.

Protesters left white and yellow chrysanthemums, glutinous rice, pomelo leaves, curse banners and cow dung. White and yellow chrysanthemums are associated with mourning in Chinese culture, while glutinous rice and pomelo leaves can be used in cleansing rituals. Organizers and participants described the items as symbolic rebukes of the studio’s recent actions.

Some players criticized Ao Yin’s appearance; other community members complained that updates for several original romance paths have been slow. Reports from long-term users indicate waits of more than 500 days for substantial new content on some routes.

Papergames confirmed Ao Yin will remain the sixth male lead, pledged future story updates for characters named Caleb and Sylus, and offered 20 free gacha pulls to affected players. The studio’s announcement did not include an apology or a detailed timeline for the promised updates.

One protester displayed a banner insulting the new character, and the company increased security around its headquarters in response. The controversy has spread beyond China, with international players discussing the issue on forums and social platforms.

A user wrote on social media: ‘I don’t condone their actions, but I’m also laughing at Infold because the writing has been on the wall for YEARS.’ Players and community members are monitoring Papergames’ channels for further statements and details on content updates and security measures.