If PaperGames started a lawsuit regarding the smear campaign in late June or early July, soon after cancelling Valko to cool down the controversy, then it will likely take months for him to return. I’m a law student, I’ve worked in international law, and I’ve worked within the global subsidiaries of some Chinese brands. One thing I can confirm is that these cases typically take quite a while to complete, especially lawsuits regarding unfair competition, which fall under civil law. Proceedings can take up to 6 months depending on the complexity of the evidence presented, whereas an appeal can extend the process to 6–12+ months. So unless PaperGames legal team has strong evidence to support the lawsuit they’ve filed, proceedings could potentially take 1 year+. The minimum timeframe I’ve considered has always been around 6 months, and we’re soon heading into month 5 of Valko’s absence. My main logical, non-theory-based expectation has always been that Infold Games will release their final statement on Valko’s fate as a product around 6 months after his cancellation. I’ve never believed in the September theory, nor have I put too much weight on theoretical dates like “before or after Sylus’s branch” or “before the anniversary multi.” My expectation is that they’ll announce something regarding Valko in early January 2027 if the lawsuit follows the more common ~6-month timeline. A late December statement is also possible. Otherwise, I could see it happening sometime in mid 2027. And if we’re extremely lucky, perhaps something could happen before the anniversary, but logically, I don’t think that’s the most likely outcome. #BringBackValko