The world of gacha games, often a whirlwind of fervent communities and passionate discourse, has recently seen a significant controversy emerge from the depths of Love and Deepspace. A game launched last year, it’s now facing criticism for a glaring issue that has persisted since its release: darker-skinned custom characters are essentially “invisible” in certain cutscenes due to unoptimized lighting.
IGN, among other outlets, has reported on the baffling oversight, highlighting how players using darker-skinned protagonists are left with scenes where their character is virtually undetectable without manually cranking up screen brightness. This isn’t just a minor visual glitch; it’s a fundamental failure in representation and accessibility within a game that otherwise boasts a “sizable amount of customization options.”
The problem stems from a lack of consideration for diverse skin tones in the game’s lighting design. As anyone with a background in film or art would attest, proper framing, lighting adjustments, and environmental considerations are crucial for subjects with varying skin tones. Historically, much filmmaking technology was developed with lighter skin tones in mind, leading to ongoing efforts to adapt cameras for a wider spectrum of shades.
In the gaming industry, developers like Elizabeth Zelle, who worked on the Saints Row series, have emphasized the importance of testing lighting in scenes to accommodate a variety of skin tones. These tools and practices exist, yet Love and Deepspace appears to have either neglected them or failed to implement them effectively. The result is a stark contrast between the game’s expansive character creation and its inability to properly illuminate those creations in key narrative moments.
After nearly two years of this persistent issue, publisher Infold Games has finally acknowledged the criticism. In a statement provided to IGN, the company remarked, “At Infold Games, we’ve always believed that our games are shaped together with the players who love them. The community’s feedback, discussions, and creative passion are what keep Love and Deepspace evolving and alive.”
The statement continued, “We’ve seen the conversations and truly value everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences and thoughts. Every comment, whether it’s about visuals, storytelling, or representation, helps us better understand how our work resonates across different perspectives and cultures. Love and Deepspace is, at its heart, a shared world of emotion and imagination. We hope to keep building it hand in hand with our players, learning and improving together along the way.”
While Infold Games’ response expresses appreciation for community feedback and acknowledges the “conversations” around representation, it notably refrains from explicitly stating that an update or fix for the lighting issue is on the way. The general sentiment, however, suggests an awareness of the criticism and a commitment to “learning and improving together.”
Given that Love and Deepspace boasts millions of players worldwide, the delay in addressing such a significant and visible problem has been a source of considerable frustration for its community. Many are astounded that it has taken almost two years for the company to even acknowledge the issue.
The gaming community now waits to see if Infold Games will translate its words into action. Hopefully, the issue will be addressed promptly, ensuring that all players, regardless of their custom character’s skin tone, can fully experience and see their protagonists in the world of Love and Deepspace.