1.2 Million Gamers Flock to 'Black Myth: Wukong' Hours After Its Release
The gaming community is filled with excitement following the release of the much-awaited action role-playing game "Black Myth: Wukong," which launched at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
TroibNews 
The gaming community is buzzing with anticipation following the release of the eagerly awaited action role-playing game (ARPG) "Black Myth: Wukong," which launched at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
By 11:40 a.m. on the same day, the game, inspired by the 16th-century Chinese masterpiece "Journey to the West," had already soared to the top of the Steam play charts, attracting over 1.2 million concurrent players globally.
Created by Game Science, the game is based on the beloved Chinese narrative that chronicles the quests of a monk and his three disciples, with a focus on Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, renowned for his extraordinary powers and playful demeanor. The cultural impact of "Journey to the West" is far-reaching, affecting not only China but also broader East Asia, with adaptations in various forms such as opera, TV series, movies, and now, a video game.
After six years of intensive development and an investment of no less than 400 million yuan (approximately $56 million), this game has emerged as a trailblazing AAA title from China. It represents a significant extension of China’s cultural influence, with video games now serving as modern vectors of its storied past.
Prior to its release, the game already demonstrated remarkable success in presales, capturing the number one position on Steam's global bestsellers chart. Industry predictions suggest the game could sell between 5 to 10 million copies, potentially generating revenues upwards of 2.6 billion yuan, not including platform commissions.
Regarding the global impact of the game, New Lines Magazine in America remarked on the universal appeal of "Black Myth: Wukong," suggesting a successful expansion of China's soft power.
Shi Anbin, director of the Israel Epstein Center for Global Media and Communication at Tsinghua University, commented on the fusion of Chinese cultural themes with advanced technology. "Chinese cultural elements are merging with cutting-edge communication technologies to form a 'Chinese digital flow,' creating a new image of China that is 'cute and cool' as well as 'dynamic'," he explained, noting the attention it has garnered from Generation Z globally.
Additionally, YouTube comments from users in Asia reflect nostalgic connections with the game’s theme, with one user saying, "I loved the Monkey King as a child. I can't even tell you how many times I read 'Journey to the West.'"
In 2023, China’s domestically created gaming titles earned 117 billion yuan from international markets, marking the fourth year in a row to surpass the 100 billion yuan milestone, as per the Game Publishing Committee of the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association.
As China merges its historical cultural assets with contemporary digital mediums, its impact on worldwide pop culture is set to expand, according to experts in communication studies.
Meanwhile, "Phantom Blade Zero" by Beijing-based S-Game is another significant release featuring traditional Chinese martial arts blended with fantasy elements. Since its trailer release in early June, it has amassed over 1.4 million views on PlayStation's official YouTube channel.
In "Black Myth: Wukong," players assume the role of a "destined person" on a dangerous mission to discover the truths about the legendary Monkey King. The standalone title provides a unique take on the historic "Journey to the West," offering players numerous surprises.
The game has received widespread praise, achieving a Metacritic score of 82 from 52 global media reviews. Prestigious gaming platforms such as IGN have given excellent ratings, with IGN awarding it an eight out of 10, while its Chinese counterparts have given top ratings.
According to GamerSky, the game’s remarkable graphics and performance are largely thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 5 and substantial investments in artistic resources. As Game Science’s premier AAA title, their dedication to crafting a refined game is evident.
The game’s success has been attributed to its superior performance, as reported by TideNews. Game Science founder Feng Ji commented on the achievements made possible by Unreal Engine 5, allowing for "movie-level image quality" in both static and dynamic visuals.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
By 11:40 a.m. on the same day, the game, inspired by the 16th-century Chinese masterpiece "Journey to the West," had already soared to the top of the Steam play charts, attracting over 1.2 million concurrent players globally.
Created by Game Science, the game is based on the beloved Chinese narrative that chronicles the quests of a monk and his three disciples, with a focus on Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, renowned for his extraordinary powers and playful demeanor. The cultural impact of "Journey to the West" is far-reaching, affecting not only China but also broader East Asia, with adaptations in various forms such as opera, TV series, movies, and now, a video game.
After six years of intensive development and an investment of no less than 400 million yuan (approximately $56 million), this game has emerged as a trailblazing AAA title from China. It represents a significant extension of China’s cultural influence, with video games now serving as modern vectors of its storied past.
Prior to its release, the game already demonstrated remarkable success in presales, capturing the number one position on Steam's global bestsellers chart. Industry predictions suggest the game could sell between 5 to 10 million copies, potentially generating revenues upwards of 2.6 billion yuan, not including platform commissions.
Regarding the global impact of the game, New Lines Magazine in America remarked on the universal appeal of "Black Myth: Wukong," suggesting a successful expansion of China's soft power.
Shi Anbin, director of the Israel Epstein Center for Global Media and Communication at Tsinghua University, commented on the fusion of Chinese cultural themes with advanced technology. "Chinese cultural elements are merging with cutting-edge communication technologies to form a 'Chinese digital flow,' creating a new image of China that is 'cute and cool' as well as 'dynamic'," he explained, noting the attention it has garnered from Generation Z globally.
Additionally, YouTube comments from users in Asia reflect nostalgic connections with the game’s theme, with one user saying, "I loved the Monkey King as a child. I can't even tell you how many times I read 'Journey to the West.'"
In 2023, China’s domestically created gaming titles earned 117 billion yuan from international markets, marking the fourth year in a row to surpass the 100 billion yuan milestone, as per the Game Publishing Committee of the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association.
As China merges its historical cultural assets with contemporary digital mediums, its impact on worldwide pop culture is set to expand, according to experts in communication studies.
Meanwhile, "Phantom Blade Zero" by Beijing-based S-Game is another significant release featuring traditional Chinese martial arts blended with fantasy elements. Since its trailer release in early June, it has amassed over 1.4 million views on PlayStation's official YouTube channel.
In "Black Myth: Wukong," players assume the role of a "destined person" on a dangerous mission to discover the truths about the legendary Monkey King. The standalone title provides a unique take on the historic "Journey to the West," offering players numerous surprises.
The game has received widespread praise, achieving a Metacritic score of 82 from 52 global media reviews. Prestigious gaming platforms such as IGN have given excellent ratings, with IGN awarding it an eight out of 10, while its Chinese counterparts have given top ratings.
According to GamerSky, the game’s remarkable graphics and performance are largely thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 5 and substantial investments in artistic resources. As Game Science’s premier AAA title, their dedication to crafting a refined game is evident.
The game’s success has been attributed to its superior performance, as reported by TideNews. Game Science founder Feng Ji commented on the achievements made possible by Unreal Engine 5, allowing for "movie-level image quality" in both static and dynamic visuals.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
