Video game ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ takes global players on journey beyond West
Clad in golden chainmail armor and wielding a magical staff spinning with flames, the Destined One, Monkey King, embarks on a marvelous yet daunting odyssey in the celestial world of “Black Myth: Wukong.”
Triple-A
Officially launched across the globe on Tuesday, “Black Myth: Wukong” is a highly-anticipated video game inspired by the ancient Chinese tale “Journey to the West”. This release marks a bold foray by Chinese game developers into a market long dominated by Western triple-A titles.
Game Scienc
Developed by Game Science, the video game is now available on platforms including Steam, Play Station 5, Epic Games Store and Tencent WeGame.
According to data on Steam, “Black Myth: Wukong” has amassed over 1.04 million concurrent players by 11 a.m. this morning, merely an hour after the debut, topping the “most-played games” list of the platform.
Following the release, Chinese stock shares in the electronic sports and media entertainment sectors led the gains and that of Zhejiang Publishing & Media, the game’s publisher, soon rose by the daily limit in the morning session.
In fact, anticipation for “Black Myth: Wukong” was palpable even before its release, having garnered significant attention from both domestic and international gamers since the gameplay trailer’s debut four years ago.
During its pre-sale phase starting from June, enthusiasts who played the trial version shared their experiences online, sparking widespread discussion and prompting some Chinese social media users to even request custom-built PCs to meet the game’s hardware specifications.
A Milestone
As of Monday, “Black Myth: Wukong” received an average score of 82 out of 100 from 54 global media outlets, according to the global game rating website Metacritic. IGN China, a game review website, awarded the game a perfect score, hailing it as a milestone for the Chinese gaming industry and a domestically produced triple-A title that competes strongly on the global stage.
High ratings on review websites have undoubtedly fueled public excitement for the game, a sentiment echoed in its sales figures. According to Valve, “Black Myth: Wukong” topped the global Steam sales charts for paid games during the week of Aug. 6 to 13, 2024.
“It’s stunningly gorgeous, the animations are incredibly fluid, it’s steeped in rich Chinese culture, and there’s just something immensely satisfying about playing as the Monkey King and beating up all sorts of mythical creatures with a giant extendable staff,” wrote Mitchell Saltzman, editor of American video game media outlet IGN, after his first hands-on with the game.
“Black Myth: Wukong” draws inspiration from “Journey to the West,” one of China’s most beloved classical works. The novel follows the adventures of a monk and his three disciples, centering on Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King, who is known for his supernatural abilities and mischievous nature.
The game weaves a heroic saga rich in emotion, blending traditional Chinese cultural elements with a distinctive Eastern aesthetic, while also appealing to international sensibilities.
About E. J. McKay
E.J.McKay is a Shanghai-headquartered investment bank with a special focus on mergers & acquisitions. We are one of the most long standing independent investment banks in China, with core business of mergers & acquisitions and financing advisory.