At first glance the Love and Deepspace Blade Runner 2049 crossover is a cool, if unexpected, addition to the otome game’s romantic universe, but it didn’t take long for fans of the game to notice an uncomfortable parallel between one of the key storylines featuring the lead character’s AI companion, Joi, and the canceled Love and Deepspace character Valko.
Warning: Blade Runner 2049 spoilers below!
In Blade Runner 2049, lead character K (Ryan Golsing) has a romantic relationship with an AI companion called Joi (played by Ana de Armas), but loses her when the “emanator” device that K uses that allows her to travel with him is destroyed. Love and Deepspace players immediately noted that something similar happened to the game’s promised sixth love interest, Valko, a companion that players were already attached to when he was canceled by developer Infold just a week after his reveal following controversy around his character.
ironically, the bladerunner collab makes more sense like this, we lost valko just like the protagonist lost his virtual girlfriend joi, destroyed by the very same big corpo that created her, only for him to bump into that ad with another joi, naked and suggestive but not HIS joi
— lyn (@xialyn_ne) October 18, 2026
Other fans noted that a Blade Runner 2049 crossover, which is an unusual one for the universe, would have made sense as a vehicle for Valko, given that the character was described as a tech CEO and hacker.
Many are still hopeful that Valko could return, given the outpouring of support for the character on social media, at real-world events, and through boycotts, petitions, and charitable donations in his name. Players have sent money to wolf sanctuaries, sponsored forests, paid for billboards to feature him, and even set up memorials for the character. Infold has made no official comment about Valko since the initial cancellation.
The special event runs from today until November 5 and includes free in-game rewards inspired by the film. It’s most likely part of a promotional campaign for the new Blade Runner 2099, which launches on Amazon Prime on November 25.
