Dichotomous Indulgence and Resistance:: Analyzing Female Players’ Response To Love and Deepspace’s 3.0 Update

Abstract

Abstract 

Love and Deepspace is an immersive gacha otome game, a genre focused on story-driven romance games marketed to women. On January 22, 2025, Love and Deepspace unveiled its 3.0 update live on YouTube, including an in-game period tracker. This feature allows users to input their menstrual cycles, prompting their chosen husbando to respond with personalized care like stomach massages and comforting dialogue (Love and Deepspace, 35:30). This update comes amidst rising concerns over data privacy and bodily autonomy, especially in light of anti-abortion laws in the U.S. and growing backlash against period tracker apps. As many women delete these apps in protest, the warm reception to Love and Deepspace’s tracker introduces an intriguing contrast. This research aims to explore this dichotomous relationship by examining user connection to the game through social media fan communities, specifically TikTok and Reddit. These avenues reveal that the emergence of regressive laws and threats to women’s health rights and privacy in Canada and the US actually work to strengthen fan connection and protection of the game and the feature itself. Notably, players assert that the feature enables women to explore pleasurable narratives and dynamics on menstruation. The fan community and game is constructed as a ‘safe space’ for women, a feat growing increasingly rare due to rising conservative logic and legislation.