China has made history with the release of Black Myth: Wukong, its first AAA video game developed by the Tencent Holdings-backed studio Game Science. Inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the game has shattered records by becoming the most-played title of its kind on its first day of release on the digital games store Steam. With 1.4 million concurrent players in the first three hours and reaching 1.8 million by the evening, Black Myth: Wukong has quickly climbed the ranks to become one of the most popular games on the platform.
The success of Black Myth: Wukong can be attributed to China’s long absence from AAA games, a category that typically includes high-budget games from major publishers. According to analyst Zhang Shule, the lack of globally recognized AAA games from China has been a source of frustration for both developers and players in the country. This pent-up demand for a high-quality Chinese game has fueled the anticipation and excitement surrounding Black Myth: Wukong.
Zhang had initially predicted that the game would need to sell 5 million copies to be considered a successful domestic AAA title. However, with the overwhelming popularity of Black Myth: Wukong, he has revised his forecast and now believes that the game has the potential to reach 10 million in sales volume. This level of success would put Black Myth: Wukong on par with other popular titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring in terms of sales figures.
As the game was released, players in China eagerly took to live-streaming platforms like Bilibili to share their gameplay experiences and discuss their initial impressions of Black Myth: Wukong. One such player, Qian Xuecheng, expressed his excitement for the game, stating that the quality of the graphics, character design, and battle scenes exceeded his expectations. While acknowledging the game’s high difficulty level, Qian praised the overall experience and was thrilled to finally play Black Myth: Wukong.
Feng Ji, the founder and CEO of Game Science, emphasized the team’s efforts to make the game accessible to both new and experienced gamers. With a focus on increasing the flexibility and tolerance of the game’s difficulty, Feng and his team aimed to create an engaging experience for all players. Additionally, the studio’s investors, including Beijing-based Hero Games, have played a significant role in promoting the game through various tie-ins and events to generate excitement among players.
Overall, the release of Black Myth: Wukong marks a significant milestone for the Chinese gaming industry, showcasing the country’s potential to produce high-quality AAA titles that can compete on a global scale. With its record-breaking success and positive reception from players, Black Myth: Wukong has set a new standard for Chinese game development and has solidified its place as a standout title in the gaming world.