- “Black Myth: Wukong becomes the second most-played game on Steam at launch, surpassing giants like Cyberpunk 2077.
- Tencent’s backing of Hangzhou-based Game Science highlights a significant shift towards fostering domestic game development capabilities.
OUR TAKE
The launch of “Black Myth: Wukong” by Tencent-backed Game Science on Monday has got the global gaming community talking, marking a big moment for China’s gaming industry. The game, based on the legendary Monkey King, has broken records by becoming the second most popular title on Steam within hours of its release. It also shows that China is becoming really good at making AAA games that people around the world like. As I see it, “Black Myth: Wukong” is a big deal. It blends Chinese culture with up-to-date gaming technology, showing that local studios can compete with global giants.
–Heidi Luo, BTW reporter
What happened
“Black Myth: Wukong,” a game developed by Chinese studio Game Science and backed by Tencent Holdings, saw instant success upon release on Monday, quickly becoming the second most played game on Steam.
With more than 2.1 million concurrent players, it surpassed established hits such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring in popularity on its day of release, according to data tracker SteamDB. This achievement places it only behind global phenomena such as Palworld and Counter-Strike 2 in terms of peak concurrent players.
Inspired by the legendary tales of the Monkey King, the game not only captivated a massive audience with its immersive gameplay, but also marked a milestone for the Chinese gaming industry.
Developed entirely by a local team, Black Mythos: Wukong represents a significant shift in the global gaming landscape, where Chinese developers are beginning to lead rather than follow.
Also read: ByteDance’s gaming exodus: Talks with Tencent reshape industry
Also read: Hollywood video game performers on strike over AI
Why it’s important
Financially, the release of the game led to speculative increases in the share prices of related smaller companies, such as Huayi Brothers Media in China, which soared due to their indirect investments in Game Science. Similarly, Citic Press also saw its share price rise, driven by potential business opportunities linked to the game, such as the publication of art books.
Within China, the game’s release attracted immense public and online attention, becoming a leading topic of discussion on platforms such as Weibo throughout the day. Local coffee chain Luckin Coffee apologised to fans after it ran out of game posters it was giving away with iced Americanos.
Furthermore, the game, which is available on platforms such as PlayStation 5, offers complex gameplay reminiscent of the Dark Souls series and has received high ratings from major review sites.
Amid a summer of major game releases from China, including Tencent’s DnF Mobile and NetEase’s Naraka: Bladepoint Mobile”, the launch of Black Mythos: Wukong is seen as a watershed event, signalling the potential emergence of China as a dominant force in the international gaming industry.
“The game’s success shows that Chinese game developers are capable of developing high-end AAA games and can compete with Western studios on a global scale,” said Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at Niko Partners.
