Delulu, or how to enjoy 3D males

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Synonymous with "flashy," delulu refers to someone who mistakes their fantasies for reality. More popular than ever, the term is serving as a keyword on social media for fans of "Love and Deepspace," a game featuring highly attractive boyfriends.

A young woman poses with the image of Rafayel, one of the characters from the game "Love and Deepspace," in a Beijing shopping mall in March. (Adek Berry/AFP)

"Why are so many women finding love in virtual reality?" On April 14, Lu Feiran, a Chinese journalist for Shine magazine, expressed concern about the "trend": a growing number of young singles are choosing a character from the game Love and Deepspace as their boyfriend. "They spend hours with them every day, but they never touch each other." Three days later, news broke: Love and Deepspace had reportedly grossed more than 5.8 billion yuan , or around 800 million euros, in one year, a staggering figure. Touted as the "first 3D love app," this Chinese smartphone game has attracted more than 50 million users worldwide since its release in January 2024.

Love and Deepspace offers a choice of several handsome males, designed to satisfy the player: a hunter (Xavier), an artist (Rafayel), a surgeon (Zayne), an arms dealer (Sylus)… Disturbed by their beauty, fans record the most erotic passages of the game and post these short videos online, under explicit titles: “Why is it so hot?”, “Let me get wet”, “Sedatives, please”. The hashtag #delulu is often associated with these suggestive videos.