Developer Papergames, the studio behind the popular romance gacha title Love and Deepspace, has issued a public safety warning after posting cocktail recipes online that fans warned could be lethal if recreated. The controversy erupted earlier this week when the studio shared drink mixes inspired by in-game slime characters, only to face swift backlash from players who identified hallucinogenic and toxic ingredients hidden within the lists.
The incident arrives during a turbulent period for the Valko controversy that has already divided the fandom. Following days of mounting concern, Papergames released a follow-up post clarifying that the recipes were entirely fictional and intended solely for in-game purposes, not for actual consumption.
A Wholesome Post That Quickly Turned Sour
The trouble began when Papergames shared what appeared to be an innocuous social media update featuring cocktail recipes. The original caption read: “One taste of this Special Blend and you won’t forget it,” accompanied by instructions for non-alcoholic drink mixes. Each recipe was themed around a specific in-game slime—Artsyblobbu, Fiendyblobbu, Pilotblobbu, Snowyblobbu, and Stellablobbu—with ingredients drawn from items found within Love and Deepspace itself.
On the surface, the posts seemed like cute, wholesome fan engagement. However, online observers quickly identified serious problems with several of the listed components. As people online pointed out, some ingredients included real hallucinogens such as Datura alongside other toxic elements like colchicine—substances that should never be consumed by humans.
The Studio’s Response
A day after the initial posts drew criticism, Papergames moved to contain the situation with a follow-up statement. The developer stressed that the drink recipes were fictional and meant for in-game purposes only, attempting to distance itself from any suggestion that fans should attempt to recreate them.
The recipe posts were entirely fictional and intended for in-game purposes only. Please do not attempt to recreate or consume these mixes.
Papergames
A Community Already on Edge
The replies to the cocktail tweets proved just as volatile as the recipes themselves. Several Love and Deepspace players quickly hijacked the thread to demand that the hunky werewolf Valko be added to the game, raising what is an entirely different can of worms. The Valko controversy has long divided the community, with devoted fans continuing to push for the character’s inclusion despite his controversial status within the title.
This convergence of issues—safety concerns over potentially dangerous recipes combined with ongoing demands around character additions—has created a challenging environment for both the developer and its player base. The situation serves as a stark reminder that social media engagement in gaming can spiral quickly when fans take promotional content literally.
Looking Ahead
The episode underscores an important lesson about engaging with video game marketing on social media: always double-check ingredients before attempting anything inspired by fictional sources. The recipes shared by Papergames were never meant to be consumed, and the identification of toxic elements like Datura and colchicine highlights why such caution matters.
As Love and Deepspace continues to navigate a difficult stretch that includes both the Valko controversy and this latest recipe mishap, the studio faces renewed scrutiny over how it communicates with its community. Fans are encouraged to enjoy in-game content as intended rather than attempting real-world recreations of anything shared through official channels.
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