Mario Bautista
Launch day records
Black Myth: Wukong was released on PS5, Steam, Epic Games Store and Chinese gaming platform WeGame on August 20. According to data tracker SteamDB, the game shattered Steam records by reaching a peak of over 2 million concurrent players within 24 hours of its release. Wukong became the second-most popular title ever on Steam within hours of its launch. The game is expected to launch on Xbox consoles later this year.
Competing with other titles
This game outperformed single-player titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring in terms of concurrent player numbers, reports Bloomberg. The game ranked just below Dota 2 and Lost Ark in peak player count, which is the number of players around the world playing the game at the same time, the report added.
10 million copies sold in 3 days
Three days after its launch, the game’s developers announced that the game had sold 10 million copies on all platforms.
$450 million collected in 3 days
The Bloomberg report also citing Niko Partners’ data claims that Wukong has pulled in “more than $450 million in three days.”
Wukong’s popularity in China
The Bloomberg report cites Citi analysts (led by Alicia Yap) to claim that 90% of Wukong PC players were based in mainland China or Hong Kong. The game’s launch generated a huge buzz on Chinese social media. A hashtag related to the game quickly became a trend on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, racking up 1.7 billion views. This highlights the game’s significant cultural impact in its home country.
Chinese companies offering ‘special’ leaves
Multiple Chinese companies are also reportedly giving their employees time off to play the game, as well as reimbursing the cost of the game for those who bought it, The Straits Times reports.
Wukong promoting tourism
Less than a week after its launch, visitors are flocking to historic sites featured in Wukong, places like Yungang Grottoes and Stork Tower in Shanxi province, northern China, the Bloomberg report adds.
Major brands trying to capitalise
Beyond its popularity with players, Black Myth: Wukong has also attracted major brands, which have integrated elements of the game into their marketing strategies. Chinese companies like Lenovo, Luckin Coffee, and Didi have capitalised on the game’s success to engage with consumers, helping the game to become a cultural phenomenon.
Wukong was inspired by Chinese folklore
Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG inspired by “Journey to the West,” where players have to in the role of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong.
Immersive gameplay attracting players
The game demands strategic gameplay, with intense combat requiring mastery of various spells, transformations as well as staff techniques. The game’s narrative has backstories of its characters from Chinese folklore, adding depth and complexity to the adventure. It requires focused gameplay and punishes careless button-mashing.
Black Myth Wukong’s developers
Game Science first teased the game in 2020 and took nearly six years to develop. The game was one of the first to take advantage of Epic Games Inc.’s Unreal Engine 5. The studio was founded in 2014 by Feng Ji, a former Tencent employee. In 2021, Tencent also bought a 5% stake in the startup.
