China: Signalling a shift in how intimacy is experienced, several Chinese young women are preferring digital boyfriends over the traditional relationships. As per the users, the digital boyfriends created within mobile games are more emotionally available and understanding. There has been a remarkable surge in the users of the game Love and Deepspace in the recent months even after its high subscription fees. The mobile game allows its users to build relationships with one of five romantic interests.

Zhou, a 33-year-old civil servant from China, downloaded the game after seeing videos of other users, reported Reuters. She found companionship through Qi Yu, a fictional character in the mobile game Love and Deepspace. While sharing her experience, Zhou stated that the character is virtually available all the time. "It’s almost feels like he’s sitting next to you," Zhou was quoted as saying by Reuters.

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"Honestly, I’m not a gamer, and I didn’t really want to start. I felt like if I played a game, I’d have to spend time doing tasks and things like that, which felt like too much trouble. I thought just watching videos (of other people playing Love and Deepspace) was already fine. But after seeing a lot of fan-made content by other players, I felt like I wanted to understand the character more deeply, so I downloaded the game," she added.

She also stated that along with emotional availability, the digital boyfriends also give space to the users. "With a male lead in a game, when I need you, I open the game and see you; when I don’t, I close the game and do my own thing. I feel like I’ve gotten used to this kind of lifestyle more and more," Zhou said.

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"That’s to say maybe it’s a way of meeting your emotional needs without affecting your own independent life," she added. The video game belongs to the "otome" genre of romance simulation games and has gained popularity among the youth in China and other western countries.