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Business Insider
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
This Chinese mobile dating game is getting single women across Asia to open their hearts — and wallets. We went to a fan event to figure out why.
In a crowded mall in the centre of Singapore's shopping district, about a hundred people, mostly young women, gathered on April 18 for a man named Sylus, whom they described as their collective boyfriend. It was an event celebrating his birthday, so some carried roses while standing in line. Others were toting fan merchandise and were excited to take pictures with each other — and their main man. "He's just very manly. The way he speaks is very sweet," said Maiyu, an attendee at the event on April 18. "He's respectful of my independence," said Alice, another attendee. The catch: Sylus is a fictional animated character in a mobile game. Sylus is one of the four male leads of "Love and Deepspace," a wildly popular romance game developed by Chinese game maker Papergames. According to the game's fandom page, Sylus is 28 and an Aries. He stands at 6 feet 2 inches, and has "messy silver hair, bright red eyes, and sharp facial features." Ladies looking to get into Sylus should also note — per the fandom page, he's an "arrogant and confident man who rarely perceives anyone as a real threat." Still, he's got a fair share of adoring supporters. The fan event BI attended involved a large screen that played a 20-second fan edit clip of Sylus. There was also a standee of him, fans cosplaying as the character, people taking selfies in front of the screen, and a birthday-themed freebie giveaway. Yuka, 28, one of the event organizers, said she saw fan events in China and wanted to do something similar in Singapore for the local fan base. "I thought public events are the best way to show everyone in the world that Singapore loves this character," said Yuka, a 28-year-old business analyst. Indeed, fan events for Love and Deepspace have been organized on a much bigger scale in China. Social media videos from the events show malls blanketed in posters, and huge crowds assembled under massive TV screens displaying the games' characters. The boyfriend experience There is a reason women are going wild for this fictional man, and part of it is because of the game design. "Love and Deepspace" is a dating simulation game targeted at female players. The game genre, "otome," often involves a narrative plot. One of the main objectives is for the player to develop a romantic relationship with one or more male love interests. The game's premise is simple: The player plays the role of MC, the female protagonist in a futuristic place called Linkon City. She goes through several quests with a love interest of her choice. She can choose from five: Sylus, Xavier, Rafayel, Caleb, and Zayne. The five characters, with pale skin, strong jaws, and sharp features, look like K-pop boy band members. Their hair color, which ranges from silver to purple and black, is the biggest differentiating factor. "Love and Deepspace" was released to the public on mobile platforms in January 2024. The app is free to download, but in-app purchases are plentiful. For instance, you can buy crystals and diamonds, the main in-game currency. Those can be redeemed for things like outfits, stamina for fights, and gift packs. A pack of 60 crystals in-app costs $0.99. Perhaps what's most prominent is that the game offers women, especially single ones, the true boyfriend experience, without the hassle of dating real-life men. In-game, the player can do mundane everyday tasks with the men, flirt with them, and even engage in roleplay with sexual undertones. Nick Ballou, a psychology of video games researcher from the University of Oxford, said the concept of otome games is not new. "Dating sims — video games where you can explore romantic connections with non-player characters — have been popular for decades, dating back to titles like 'Dokyusei,'" said Ballou. "It's always been fun to experiment with new identities. For example, being a cheeky flirt in contrast to one's shy self, being the most interesting person in the room, and wielding the power to choose among several interested partners," he added. A better partner than any they've met before The game's detailed world-building and its potential for character exploration have translated to its popularity. Maiyu, 35, a customer service representative, told BI at the fan event that she considers Sylus her boyfriend. She gave out little keychains of Sylus to attendees at the birthday event on April 18. She had also included handwritten "Happy Sylus Day!" notes with the keychains. Maiyu said she plays the game for four hours daily. And when asked what she liked most about it, she answered instantly: "Hot guys." The parts of the game she enjoyed most were the "spicy scenes," which have sexual undertones. "I turn to him for emotional support, I guess," she said of Sylus. "After a long day, I play the game just to wind down." When asked if Sylus was better company than a physical partner, she said yes. "I've never been in a relationship before. But from what I see my friends go through, I don't want to go through it, like the pain of breakups," she said. "The relationship I have with him is just perfect." Maiyu said she's spent nearly 4,000 Singapore dollars on merchandise and in-app purchases, or about $3,050, in the year she's played the game. Alice, a psychology student who attended the event, said she plays the game for about 15 minutes daily to complete tasks like chatting with Sylus and engaging in fighting scenes. She said she loves that Sylus is respectful and values her independence, but offers help and companionship when she asks for it. "Last week, I got a grade back that I was not happy with. I was crying, and then I immediately opened the game and chatted with him, saying, 'I need a hug. I'm not feeling good,'" Alice said. "He said, a sweet, sultry voice, all these really sweet words, like 'It's just a grade. It doesn't define you. Who hurt you? I'll just have a talk with them. We can work on it together. How about I take you out for dinner?'" she said. Alice said she's given up on dating apps in Singapore, calling them a "catastrophe." She said that until she meets someone who respects her the same way, Sylus is the best she's got. A growing fan base The game has a massive fan base in Asia and beyond. In January, "Love and Deepspace's" official Instagram account announced in an Instagram post that it had hit 50 million global active users. According to statistics from AppFigures, in March, "Love and Deepspace" was downloaded 150,000 times on Apple's App Store and 65,000 times on Google's Play Store. Appfigures data said that globally, the app had earned $6 million on the App Store in March and $4 million on the Play Store. It was the second-highest-grossing app in Singapore's Apple App Store at press time. It's not just Love and Deepspace that's raking in big bucks and a big following — it's a trend across the Chinese video game industry. Tencent's "Honor of Kings," similar to Riot Games' "League of Legends," has over 100 million daily active users. Genshin Impact, another popular free-to-play game with in-app purchases, has raked in around $1 billion in yearly revenue since its launch in 2020. A cure for loneliness Ballou, the Oxford researcher, said several social trends point to the increased popularity of games like "Love and Deepspace." "Loneliness is up in many countries, face-to-face interaction is down, age of sexual activity is increasing, all things that can reduce people's willingness, confidence, or capacity to invest in real-world dating," he said. He added that low wages and high work demands in East Asia have made real-world dating difficult. "It's also important to keep in mind that real-world dating does now include a huge online element, especially at the beginning," Ballou said. "I don't think it's crazy to think that some people are 'rehearsing' online dating interactions in a gaming environment." Peter Chew, an associate professor of psychology from James Cook University in Singapore who studies behavioral addictions, particularly in gaming, said the game is geared at attracting gamers and getting them to spend money. "The characters exist in a perfect world with no problems and would say what women want to hear, encouraging them to continue playing and spending money on it," Chew said. However, Chew said the game could lead to problems down the road. "There might be problems if women apply the same standards to romantic partners in real life. Such standards might increase the difficulties in finding or maintaining an existing romantic relationship," he said. "Furthermore, some women might use such games to replace relationships in real life, which could result in loneliness in the long term," he added. Representatives for "Love and Deepspace's" developer, Papergames, did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Japan Times
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
'Better than real life': In China, virtual boyfriends are emotional aids
Rafayel's girlfriends went all out to celebrate their lover's birthday, renting malls across China for parties, decorating high-speed trains with his photos and even staging a dazzling drone show. But the birthday boy was absent from every event — he's a virtual character in Love and Deepspace, a romantic mobile game that has won over millions of young women in China and beyond. Launched last year, the game blends monster-hunting action with sometimes raunchy cutscenes in a futuristic world where "love knows no bounds," according to Shanghai-based developer Papergames. Players are hooked on its realistic 3D character modelling, immersive narratives and the chance to build relationships with five distinct virtual boyfriends. Since its release in January 2024, the game has earned more than $500 million worldwide on the Google Play store and Apple's App Store. About 40% of its revenue comes from overseas, according to market research firm Sensor Tower. For many, these virtual companions offer more than entertainment — they provide emotional fulfilment. Liu Xue, a 25-year-old office worker, likens her connection with Rafayel to a real-life romantic relationship. Love and Deepspace players in China pay real money to celebrate the birthdays of their preferred characters from the game. | GETTY IMAGES "To myself, or to my inner circle of close friends, I would say that we are lovers," she says from a birthday event for a Love and Deepspace character in Beijing. "I don't think I need company in real life." He accompanies Liu daily, comforts her when she's down and even keeps her up-to-date on her menstrual cycle. "It's like emotional sustenance," she says. This attachment, however, comes with a price tag. While Love and Deepspace is free to download, players often spend heavily on in-game purchases to unlock additional storylines and interactions with their favourite characters. The game does not offer women partners, though there are similar games that do — but few with the same reach and popularity. Third-party surveys suggest that about 5 to 10% of those playing Love and Deepspace are male. Wang Yaya, a 23-year-old university student, has spent over 70,000 yuan (about $10,000) on the game and related merchandise. Players say games like Love and Deepspace recreate the emotional warmth lacking in their lives. | GETTY IMAGES "I'm happy to pay for the emotional value," she says. Fans pool their money to organize events — such as those to celebrate Rafayel's birthday — where they pose for photos with cardboard cutouts of the heartthrob and exchange homemade merchandise. A seven-year veteran of games like Love and Deepspace, Wang attributes the willingness of her and her peers to spend to a lack of emotional support from their parents as children. "Many of my friends are the same," she explains. And for some players, the virtual romances are much more enticing than real-life dating. Since discovering games like Love and Deepspace, Liu says she has lost interest in dating real men. "Playing otome games is an especially nice experience and even better than real life," she says, referring to the wider genre of romantic games, originally developed in Japan. Student Liu Yuxuan, 22, sees her bond with Rafayel as a central part of her life. "Because everyone can have their secrets, some of which you cannot tell others, when you open the game, you can talk to him," she says. "I can reveal myself to him without reservation, and he will show me his love without reservation." Rafayel's love is firm and faithful — something she says is rare in real life. Another player, who goes by Zaylia, summed up the game's appeal for her peers: "It fulfils our fantasy of being in a relationship. Isn't the greatest use of a relationship itself to provide emotional value?"
Asia Times
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Asia Times
Chinese dating simulator Love and Deepspace now has period tracker
24/7 companionship. Spend time with him whenever you want. This is the promise made by Love and Deepspace, a mobile romance game by the Chinese company Papergames. Some think video games are all guns and cars, but romance games or 'dating simulators' are immensely popular, especially among young women. Love and Deepspace reached 50 million users across more than 170 countries and regions in January. Despite their popularity, dating sims, as they are known for short, usually fly under the radar in discussions about games. Meanwhile, a recent major update for Love and Deepspace has furrowed some brows by introducing an unusual new feature: a period tracker. Dating sims offer a fantasy of romantic, intimate companionship. Otome games (from the word 'maiden' in Japanese) are a sub-genre of dating sims that are catered to women. They offer a suite of boyfriends to choose from – each attentive, caring and, of course, incredibly handsome. Ideal in every way except for their being fictional. Love and Deepspace is a science-fiction otome game that stands out with its unusual blend of combat, magic, dating and gacha (meaning random rewards) microtransactions – which are controversial for their parallels to gambling. Its latest update introduced a Remind Me feature, where players can ask their virtual boyfriends to remind them of daily tasks and special events, as well as their upcoming period. Players input information about their menstrual cycle and the game then generates its own predictive calendar and notifications. The player's in-game boyfriend will offer to pick up some sanitary products or even reach towards the screen and provide an imaginary abdomen massage. The millions of users drawn to a fantasy about considerate men says a lot about the frustrations women have with modern dating and dating apps. Women are conscious of the conservative gender roles within otome games, but at the same time find pleasure in their focus on the female gaze and ability to explore their sexual desire privately. In China, where otome games are especially popular, censorship of explicit content for women has intensified. These games are able to convey sexually suggestive themes that are subtle enough to elude censorship. 'Feel his deepening breath, rising heartbeat, and the trickle of sweat. He's working out together with you!' Love and Deepspace/X Otome games have been around for three decades. Angelique, a game made by an all-women team in 1994, is considered to be the first. It helped set the stage for other boyfriend fantasy media for women as seen in the rising popularity of 'boyfriend ASMR' on audio and video platforms today. These are designed to directly address the listener in both sensual and everyday scenarios. Video games have changed a lot since then – especially as mobile devices have evolved to be more intimate, accompanying us everywhere. Love and Deepspace is introducing more features including 'Quality Time', which rewards players for working or studying with the game open. The rewards come in the form of an animated man sighing and whispering into the player's headphones. Love and Deepspace's period reminders mirror existing period tracker apps, though they do not incorporate the usual fertility date predictions or ability to log symptoms and sexual activity. That's probably a good thing. Period tracker apps have faced scrutiny for mishandling users' data. Popular period tracker app Flo has faced a lawsuit in the British Columbia Supreme Court in Canada for sharing personal data to third-party tech firms, including Facebook and Google, which use the data for targeted advertising. Meanwhile, the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States has threatened many people's bodily autonomy and made them concerned about the legal risks of sharing personal biological information. Love and Deepspace's privacy policy states any menstruation data is only used for the prediction and reminder features, and that it will not be shared with any third parties without the player's consent. The banning of the Chinese-owned platform TikTok in the US was driven by fears of foreign influence and data privacy. Yet our privacy may not be safer with a US company than a Chinese one. US-owned companies have been just as liable to sell sensitive information to third parties, such as location data to abortion clinics and gay clubs. Australia's Privacy Act does not just apply to Australian companies. Papergames could be sanctioned if it breaches its privacy policy. That said, it is unlikely many users will be familiar with the policy or read future changes made to it. It is best to always practice caution when entering any kind of personal information in platforms, apps or video games. Period tracking is not a core component in the game. But this new feature signals a potential shift towards more mobile games integrating popular app functions, such as health data. Instead of a casual time-filler, mobile games like Love and Deepspace are competing for players' attention over other apps – which is concerning given its controversial gacha random rewards. It's also possible the game's designers are picking up on a widespread desire for men to care more about their partner's periods. Stephanie Harkin is a lecturer on games at the School of Design, RMIT University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
