What if you could find love in a universe that’s nothing like our own? That’s exactly what the creators of Love and Deepspace set out to do. As the game approaches its first anniversary, it’s clear they’ve struck gold, drawing in a staggering 50 million players globally. The secret sauce is its captivating narrative, its futuristic setting, and characters that you won’t easily forget.
In this game, you’re thrust into a future where humanity receives a mysterious call from Deepspace, at the same time as fierce creatures called the Wanderers show up. You play as an Evolver, equipped with superhuman abilities, embarking on an adventurous journey. You’ll have to battle these creatures and can forge intimate connections with fellow Evolvers you meet along the way. For the creators, love and the sci-fi world weren’t just topics; they were the backbone of the game.
“As I immersed myself in the creative process, it dawned on me how naturally the ideas of love and the future go hand-in-hand,” says the game’s producer. “Even when we’re venturing into the unknown, love remains a constant necessity. It’s like our journey may lead us to the cosmos, but it’s love that fuels us along the way. The term ‘future’ embodies a vision that’s perfectly aligned with our plan to craft a forward-thinking romance game. This vision influenced every piece of the game design puzzle, guiding us towards truly future-oriented content.”
Central to their ethos was blending ‘love’ with the ‘future,’ a concept reflected in every development decision. From embracing cutting-edge 3D technology to crafting a compelling narrative arc and rich character stories, every detail was designed to enhance player experience. While the narrative delivers emotional depth, the game’s 3D aesthetics are what first enchants players, even though creating these visuals was no easy feat.
“The biggest technical hurdle was crafting film-level cinematics and console-worthy character animations for mobile play,” the producer shares. “We decided to go all-in, beefing up our tech investments and working tirelessly.” This meant capturing the subtle texture of real skin with a whopping 50-camera setup and devising an automated simulation to handle the movement of loose garments where usual engines stumble.
They harnessed advanced capture systems capable of recording actors’ subtle expressions and movements at a cool 300 fps. Furthermore, they developed an in-engine performance editing setup that let various teams — from lighting to effects — collaborate simultaneously. Despite mobile device limitations, these tech leaps allowed Love and Deepspace to achieve console-level visuals, showcasing their technical prowess.
“Making sure all these intricate details worked seamlessly on mobile devices added another layer of complexity. We poured every bit of tech resources we had into optimization, making the most of multi-core processing and GPU features.” This effort supported up to 800 physical bones to ensure fluid gameplay, a feat down to every finer detail like strands of hair. Often, there was a friendly tug-of-war between the artists’ vision and the engineers’ practicality, pushing both to find innovative solutions.”
With everyone working toward crafting a mesmerizing world that pulls players in with its story and characters, the game blends technological innovation with a rich narrative to ensure each interaction resonates, drawing players further into the universe of Love and Deepspace.
“The story is the springboard for forming romantic bonds and sets the scene for immersive interactions. In a game where player experience takes center stage, the narrative weaves together the gameplay. Through varied storytelling techniques, we aim to give characters depth, crafting an engaging romantic journey. We approached this with a ‘puzzle-like’ narrative style that fits our gameplay like a glove.”
Incorporating a diversity of choices was always central to the developers’ mission: to create a romance game that would resonate with a global audience. They believe that by meeting top-tier standards of quality and experience, the theme of love can cross cultural lines, bringing players together.
“We believed from the start — or maybe it was more of a hopeful guess — that a game with a high-quality experience could break cultural barriers and captivate a universal audience. Driven by this belief, we set out to craft the ultimate romance journey, confident it would connect people worldwide and offer the soulful connection they crave. At the end of the day, we truly believe love transcends cultural divides.”
However, the road to success was not without its twists and turns. The team faced significant hurdles, navigating key transitions while tackling challenges in tech, design, and user feedback.
“When I think back, two pivotal moments stand out for me: unveiling the first trailer in October 2020 and our major external playtest in April 2023. Following the initial trailer, the lackluster response hit hard, underscoring how challenging it was to achieve a ‘realistic, yet creatively-styled’ aesthetic on mobile. To deliver a visually stunning experience, we completely revamped our mobile development strategy to aim for console-level performances. During the public playtest, although we nailed the model detail, there were still many shortcomings. The frank feedback we received, though tough, was invaluable, swiftly pointing out areas to improve. It prompted us to redo aspects of the game and prep for a second test within half a year. Doubling down on Love and Deepspace was a significant risk for the company, but we believed in its potential. Thankfully, we’re a team that’s ready to gamble everything for the possibility of creating something extraordinary.”
With Love and Deepspace nearing 50 million downloads and consistently breaking records for daily active users, it’s clear the game has set a new standard for romance games. Despite the triumphs, the team treasures most the joy their creation brings to players.
“The happiness and hope we instill in players are what truly make us proud. It wasn’t always an easy ride, but each obstacle pushed us to get better.” “Hearing players say that Love and Deepspace boosted their confidence and helped them feel love-worthy is incredibly rewarding. Creating something that positively impacts people’s lives in such a meaningful way has been the true highlight for us, and we’re ecstatic about achieving that.”
