Love and Deepspace takes home the award for Best Mobile Game at Gamescom, as titles focused on female audiences gain visibility on the global platform.

      Credit: Love and Deepspace

      At last month's Gamescom in Cologne, Love and Deepspace— a 3D romance mobile game from Infold Games— received the Best Mobile Game Award, marking the first time a female-oriented game has achieved such recognition. This represents a significant milestone for China's gaming sector and indicates the growing impact of female-focused titles on a global scale.

      An innovative 3D immersive romance experience

      Since its debut in January 2024, Love and Deepspace has redefined genre limits with its fully 3D, dynamic interactive design. By combining cinematic storytelling with first-person immersion, the game elevates the feeling of "companionship." So far, it has drawn over 70 million players internationally and has reached the top of iOS charts in more than 30 countries and regions, including Japan, the US, and Singapore, according to the company.

      Creative inspiration: the intersection of future and love

      In a conversation with TechNode, producer Lizi shared that her inspiration stemmed from her love for romance games and the increasing influence of science fiction in China. “What if we merge human emotions with visions of the future and deep space? Would that lead to a new type of experience? That was our concept.” She believes that love and the future are intrinsically linked—love drives humanity's quest to explore the cosmos.

      Character design that imbues life into holographic figures

      The character design in Love and Deepspace focuses on a sense of “holographic presence.” According to the producer, appearance creates the first impression, personality defines uniqueness, and storylines contribute growth and vitality. Lizi stated, “Our goal is not just to present a character, but to create a soulful entity that resonates with players.”

      For each romantic interest in Love and Deepspace, the development team dedicated over two years to refining the character. They meticulously crafted each character’s personality and developed a complete life story, treating them like real individuals and paying attention to every detail.

      Lizi noted that player feedback validates this design philosophy, with some stating the game helped them realize their "worthiness of love" and transformed their perceptions of relationships. Others reported increased confidence and better health through the fitness companion feature. One former player even remarked that the game strengthened her relationship with her daughter.

      Storytelling and music that foster emotional connection

      Lizi expressed that the team seeks to enable players to experience love grounded in “equality and respect.” The game’s slogan, “Traversing Deepspace, Be With You,” encapsulates this ethos, which is reflected in both the battle mechanics and the emotional ties the game cultivates, emphasizing companionship during growth and challenges. Music plays a pivotal role as well—with Sarah Brightman performing the theme song and original compositions integrated throughout the narrative, battles, and emotional peaks.

      Technical challenges in achieving cinematic quality on mobile

      Lizi mentioned that the development team encountered technical challenges in achieving cinematic quality on mobile devices. They dedicated years and significant resources to address aspects such as hair strands, skin textures, dynamic clothing, and realistic sweat effects. “Without existing references, it required extensive trial and error. Fortunately, our team was young and talented,” Lizi recalled.

      To perfect details, the team invested over a year creating natural, voluminous hair using film-level visual effects. They utilized a 50-camera 4D scanning array for capturing skin textures, allowing for precise simulation of muscles and surfaces. Additionally, they created an automated system for rendering intricate, flowing clothing with reduced processing demands on mobile devices. Sweat effects were also meticulously designed—when a love interest delivers a punch, droplets realistically follow his motion trajectory.

      Looking ahead to expanding the boundaries of interaction

      In the future, Love and Deepspace aims to continue pushing the limits of narrative and interaction while exploring new technologies such as VR, AR, and MR. Infold Games also intends to introduce updates featuring new story chapters and gameplay elements to enhance the emotional bonds between players and characters.

      A global impact through the digital emotion revolution

      From its underlying technology to player responses, Love and Deepspace transcends being just a successful mobile game—it signifies an ongoing digital emotion revolution. Through genuine emotional expression and technological innovations, it is transforming the global perception of “Made in China.” Concurrently, the rising influence of female-oriented titles highlights the substantial increase in female participation in China’s gaming market.

      Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai. She covers consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. Connect with her via e-mail: [email protected].