Upon its release Tuesday morning, “Black Myth: Wukong,” a video game developed by Shenzhen-based Game Science, became an instant global hit, amassing over 1 million players within the first hour.
Inspired by “Journey to the West,” one of China’s ancient literature classics, the game brought the Monkey King or Sun Wukong, one of the most iconic characters in global fiction, to life for fans. Within one hour of its release, the game topped Steam’s most-played games list.
Steam, a leading online platform for PC gaming, is widely recognized for its vast user base, extensive game library, and significant impact on game sales, indie development, and community engagement.
By the end of Tuesday, the game had sold more than 3 million copies on Steam alone. Combined with sales from gaming platforms like WeGame, Epic Games, and PlayStation, 4.5 million copies had been sold, generating over 1.5 billion yuan (US$210.3 million) in revenue. The game also achieved an approval rating of over 95% on Steam.
During a routine press conference in Beijing yesterday, a reporter from Reuters asked Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning about the game.
Mao stated: “I do not know much about video games, but thank you for drawing my attention to this game. The name of this game suggests that it is inspired by the Chinese classic novel ‘Journey to the West.’ I think this speaks to the appeal of the Chinese culture.”
SZ’s thriving gaming industry
Feng Ji, the game’s producer and co-founder of Game Science, established the company with his core team in Nanshan District in 2014. In 2018, they set their sights on China’s single-player game market and quickly assembled a project team to develop “Black Myth: Wukong.”
From inception to early development, the entire process took place in Shenzhen.
The startup also has strong ties to the Shenzhen-based tech giant Tencent. All of Game Science’s founders had previously worked for Tencent, which later became a key investor in the company.
To craft a truly immersive, world-class game, Game Science spent years capturing footage from historical and cultural sites across China.
They used real-world scanning technology to upload digital models of ancient buildings, statues, and sculptures into Unreal Engine 5, a real-time 3D creation tool, laying the foundation for an ultra-realistic experience.
A scene of the video game “Black Myth: Wukong.” Photos by Shenzhen Evening News
“Since 2016, I have been convinced of the vast potential in China’s single-player game market. At that time, while the U.S. market was worth US$10 billion and Japan’s just over US$5 billion, China’s market was barely US$100 million. Even then, I was confident that within 10 to 15 years, China’s single-player game market would not only catch up to Japan’s but potentially surpass it,” Feng told Xinhua a month before the game’s release.
Feng attributed the game’s phenomenal reception around the globe to its basis in Chinese culture.
“Great games allow players worldwide to exchange experiences and share joy,” he said, noting that he is glad to receive feedback from game players worldwide.
Feng said the global attention and praise has surpassed his initial expectations and further motivated his team to develop similar products.
“We plan to continue releasing games in the ‘Black Myth’ series in the future, allowing more people to savor the marvelous and profound traditional culture,” Feng said.
“The success of the game is closely tied to Shenzhen’s commitment to innovation and its robust support for the cultural industry,” Zhao Bowen, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Internet Cultural Market Industry Association, said. He noted that Shenzhen’s gaming industry is rapidly taking shape and has a complete ecosystem spanning development, operations, and distribution. The city also boasts a concentration of high-tech companies that provide support for the industry, creating a solid foundation for growth.
To date, Shenzhen’s gaming industry has generated over 100 billion yuan in revenue, accounting for more than 50% of China’s total. The city is home to industry leaders like Tencent and leads the country in game research, development, and operations.
Additionally, Shenzhen has introduced a series of supportive policies and funding initiatives aimed at turning the city into an international electronic sports (esports) capital by 2025.
Chinese culture going global
As “Black Myth: Wukong” emerges as an example of bringing Chinese games to the global stage, it has received widespread acclaim from international gaming websites for its unique storyline and captivating gameplay, a Shenzhen Special Zone Daily report said yesterday.
On Siliconera, a gaming news site, a player named Kazuma Hashimoto praised the game, saying, “It’s a visually stunning game that has clearly put a lot of effort into crafting an exciting reimagining of one of China’s most iconic myths. It’s easily one of the best action RPGs [role-playing games] I’ve played this year.”
South Korean gaming media outlet INVEN commented, “The game brilliantly captures its unique Chinese story and visuals, delivering them flawlessly. The breathtaking action sequences paired with these gorgeous scenes keep you hooked, always eager for the next chapter, boss fight, or transformation.”
On the Brazilian version of IGN, a popular media website, gamer Vitor Conceicao highlighted the game’s well-crafted story and compelling characters, describing it as an invitation to delve deeper into China’s rich mythology.
Travis, a game blogger in Virginia, the U.S., said although he knows nothing about Chinese mythology and the culture behind it, he is eager to learn more about it after playing the game.
“I have never encountered anything about Sun Wukong in any form, but this game is getting a lot people interested in this,” he said.
In addition, gameplay videos have garnered significant attention on social media platforms like YouTube. For example, a walkthrough of “Black Myth: Wukong” by TheRadBrad, a popular gaming YouTuber, garnered over 1.8 million views and 71,000 likes within 26 hours of being uploaded.