An image of the video game "Black Myth: Wukong." /CFP
The gaming world is abuzz with excitement after the highly anticipated action role-playing game (ARPG) "Black Myth: Wukong" was released at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
As of 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, the video game which is inspired by the 16th-century Chinese classic "Journey to the West" topped the hot play chart on Steam, a global digital distribution platform for video games, with over 1.2 million concurrent players worldwide.
The game, developed by Game Science, draws inspiration from the famous Chinese novel which 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 influence of "Journey to the West" extends across China and beyond, especially East Asia. The story has been adapted into operas, TV series, films, and now a video game.
The game has undergone six years of meticulous development, backed by a substantial investment of at least 400 million yuan (about $56 million). This massive financial commitment underscores the game's status as a pioneering AAA title in China. It is yet another testament to China's expanding cultural footprint beyond traditional boundaries, with video games becoming new ambassadors of its rich heritage.
The game's pre-sale performance has been nothing short of spectacular. It clinched the top spot on Steam's best-selling list in multiple regions worldwide. Industry experts are predicting astronomical sales figures, with estimates ranging from a conservative 5 million copies to an ambitious 10 million copies. It could generate revenue exceeding 2.6 billion yuan, excluding platform commissions. This figure underscores the game's potential to become a financial behemoth.
Players check out the video game "Black Myth: Wukong" in Shanghai Municipality, east China, July 26, 2024. /CFP
Chinese cultural icon
New Lines Magazine in America highlighted the worldwide attention "Black Myth: Wukong" has attracted, saying it indicates that "China's investment in soft power is paying off."
"Chinese cultural elements are merging with cutting-edge communication technologies to form a 'Chinese digital flow,' creating a new image of China that is 'cute and cool' as well as 'dynamic'," said Shi Anbin, director of the Israel Epstein Center for Global Media and Communication at Tsinghua University, adding that this new portrayal is capturing the attention of Generation Z worldwide.
On YouTube, many users from Asian countries have said the game's trailer music evokes their childhood memories. "I loved the Monkey King as a child. I can't even tell you how many times I read 'Journey to the West'," read one comment, written in Japanese.
China's domestically developed gaming products raked in 117 billion yuan in overseas sales in 2023, marking the fourth consecutive year this figure has surpassed 100 billion yuan, according to a report from the Game Publishing Committee of the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association.
As China continues to blend its rich cultural heritage with modern digital platforms, its influence on global pop culture is poised to grow, showcasing a dynamic and multifaceted image to the world, according to communication studies experts.
"Black Myth: Wukong" is not the only major gaming title set to satisfy the needs of gamers interested in China's rich culture this year.
"Phantom Blade Zero," developed by Beijing-based S-Game, has been touted as a fusion of traditional Chinese martial arts and fantasy. Since early June, its latest trailer has garnered over 1.4 million views on PlayStation's official YouTube page, with the game's world tour demo running from June to September.
A trailer for the video game "Black Myth: Wukong" is displayed at a store in Shanghai Municipality, east China, June 21, 2024. /CFP
Immersive game
In "Black Myth: Wukong," players take on the role of a "destined person" embarking on a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the legendary Monkey King. This standalone game offers a fresh perspective on the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West" and is filled with unexpected twists and turns.
The game has garnered widespread critical acclaim, with a Metacritic score of 82 based on reviews from 52 global media outlets. Notably, the influential gaming website IGN awarded the game eight out of 10, while its Chinese counterpart bestowed a perfect score of 10.
"Black Myth: Wukong" has been praised for its exceptional visual fidelity and performance. Gaming outlet GamerSky attributes this to the game's utilization of the Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) and Game Science's substantial investment in art resources. As the studio's first AAA title, meticulous attention to detail and extensive resource allocation have culminated in a highly polished product.
The game's phenomenal popularity can be largely attributed to its world-class performance, TideNews reported. Game Science founder Feng Ji credits the UE5 for enabling the team to achieve "movie-level image quality" in both static and dynamic visuals.