They may be AI, but they're MY AI": Character Attachment and AI-driven Romantic Engagement in Otome Games in China

With the rising popularity of otome games (narrative-driven romance games designed for women  gamers)  in  China,  players increasingly use  AI  character  platforms  for  extended interactions  outside  of  the games. However,  existing  Character Attachment (CA) theory and  scale  (Lewis  et al., 2008)  lack  applicability  in  dynamic  interactions  with  AI-based characters.  This study investigates how  Character Attachment (CA) transforms when Chinese otome players migrate from official games to AI platforms such as Zhumengdao.This proposed project  address two critical gaps:  How CA dimensions (identification/friendship, suspension of disbelief, control, responsibility) shift in AI-driven interactions; and how gendered intimacy  expectations shape AI  use.  Using  a mixed-methods approach -  quantitative surveys (N=200) and  an  ethnographic  study  with  active users - we examine CA’s evolution from static game characters to dynamic AI interactions.Findings will advance understanding of AI use in female gaming communities and inform ethical AI design in future otome games.