Popular game Love and Deepspace addresses criticism over visibility of dark-skinned characters

Hit mobile game Love and Deepspace responds after players said dark-skinned characters were hard to see in scenes

Infold Games has responded to ongoing criticism regarding its popular game Love and Deepspace, after players reported that darker-skinned custom characters appear nearly “invisible” in some scenes due to poor lighting optimisation.

The issue, first raised by players and later covered by IGN, highlights how the game’s visual design struggles to represent darker skin tones accurately.

Despite offering extensive character customisation options, many users shared images showing that their avatars were barely visible during cutscenes unless the brightness settings were increased manually.

This sparked widespread debate in the gaming community about lighting design and inclusivity. Developers and players noted that, much like film and television, video games need to account for different skin tones when designing lighting environments.

Elizabeth Zelle, a developer who worked on the Saints Row series, previously explained that testing and adjusting lighting for varied complexions is a necessary part of visual development.

In response to the criticism, Infold Games released a statement to IGN: “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. We’ve seen the conversations and truly value everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences and thoughts.”

The company added that it aims to “keep building hand in hand with players, learning and improving together along the way.” However, Infold did not confirm whether an update will address the issue directly.

Love and Deepspace has millions of players worldwide, and discussions continue about how future updates might improve visual representation.