In love with a cardboard man

“We are lovers” a fan says of one of the five AI ‘boyfriends’.

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Rafayel’s girlfriends went all out to celebrate their lover’s birthday, renting malls across China for parties, decorating high-speed trains with his photos and even staging a dazzling drone show.

But the birthday boy was absent from every event – he’s a virtual character in the romantic mobile game “Love and Deepspace” that has won over millions of young women in China and beyond.

Launched last year, the game blends monster-hunting action with sometimes raunchy scenes in a futuristic world where “love knows no bounds”, according to Shanghai-based developer Papergames.

And players are hooked on its realistic 3D character modelling, immersive narratives and the chance to build relationships with five distinct virtual boyfriends.

Since its release in January 2024, the game has earned more than $500 million (about Rg billion) worldwide on the Google Play store and Apple’s App Store.

About 40% of its revenue comes from overseas, market research firm Sensor Tower said.