Black Myth: Wukong, an action RPG developed by Chinese studio Game Science, has had an extremely successful launch following its release on August 20, 2024, for PC and PS5. The high sales, particularly within China, reflect the continued industrialization of Chinese game development, the growing global influence of Chinese studios, and shifting consumer preferences in China. Black Myth: Wukong reached over 2.2 million peak concurrent users (PCCU) on Steam within its first 24 hours, making it the most popular single-player game by PCCU in the platform’s history. It also ranks second among all games by PCCU, trailing PUBG which peaked at 3.2 million. The game, first announced in August 2020, draws heavily from Chinese mythology and is based on the classic novel Journey to the West, featuring Sun Wukong, or “The Monkey King,” as its protagonist. The high-end graphics, transformational (literally) gameplay, and cultural connection resonated strongly with Chinese gamers, with the debut trailer surpassing 55 million views on video platform Bilibili. This made it the most viewed gaming trailer of all time on the platform. The initial interest, ongoing trailer releases and marketing push translated into more than 4 million gamers wishlisting the title on Steam prior to launch. It became the most wishlisted game on the platform in early 2024. Black Myth: Wukong’s strong performance in China is primarily attributable to continued access to the international version of Steam, which is accessible without a VPN. More than 93% of the 250,000 reviews on Steam are in Simplified Chinese, with an impressive 97% of these reviews being positive. The overwhelming popularity of the game in China was further demonstrated when Steam’s download bandwidth peaked at 79.3Tbps on August 20, with Asia accounting for 82% of this, breaking the previous record set on Cyberpunk 2077’s (51Tbps) launch day in 2020.

We already knew that Black Myth: Wukong was a true success, but we didn't know just how big it was. Now we have, as Game Science has revealed the first sales figures for the game.As of August 23, 2024, the title has sold over 10 million units worldwide, and the game has peaked at 3 million simultaneous players. These figures include both the PS5 and PC versions.

MY FIRST 2 HOURS WITH BLACK MYTH: WUKONG: DEMANDING BOSS FIGHTS AND BEAUTIFUL CHARACTERS.

We have some real souls game freaks here at PC Gamer, several of whom are deep in Shadow of the Erdtree preparation mode, but I'm not one of them. I like From's style of action RPG, but I like to believe I represent the everyman's experience with them—bumbling through the opening hours, just barely beating bosses on a respectable ninth attempt, often quitting in the final act where things get really tough and promising myself I'll get back to it (I don't get back to it). Maybe that's cope talking and I'm just not built for the souls life, but I do know that Black Myth: Wukong is way more my speed than Elden Ring. If you're not one of the many soulslike fans who've rocketed Black Myth: Wukong to the top of Steam's most-wishlisted games, then you've probably seen it in passing. It's an action RPG loosely adapting the 15th-century novel Journey to the West (the latest of many adaptations, including Enslaved: Odyssey to the West). You play as the monkey king himself, Sun Wukong, taking on the world with his magic staff. It's only the second game by indie outfit Game Science, founded in 2014 by ex-Tencent devs. You might remember Game Science as the subject of a 2023 IGN report detailing a history of sexism from one of its founders as well as a wider company culture of misogyny.

MY TWO-HOUR DEMO AT SUMMER GAME FEST: A GLIMPSE OF BLACK WIND MOUNTAIN.

which was the first time Black Myth: Wukong has been playable, centered around the Black Wind Mountain, an early area in the game adapted from a chapter of the same name. I'm not familiar with author Wu Chen'en's original vision of Black Wind Mountain, but Game Science's rendering is stuffed with wolflike henchmen, big-headed golem babies, and a gauntlet of challenging bosses. Even as I steered Wukong toward a dozen early deaths, none of the handful of boss fights I found made me want to chuck the controller across Los Angeles—maybe because it was easy to dust myself off and try again when I never woke up more than 15 or 20 seconds away from where I died. Wukong's streamlined moveset reinforced my patience, too. Combat is narrowly focused on a single weapon, the monkey king's magical staff, a dodge button, and quick-use spells with cooldowns. It's closest to Sekiro and Bloodborne in this way, and yet there's no block or parry (at least not early on).

BLACK MYTH WUKONG: HOW LONG IS THE STORY? COMPLETION TIME AND MORE.

Black Myth: Wukong has been building excitement with its dramatic trailers, and now that the game is fully released, players can dive into the six chapters of Sun Wukong’s adventure. Each chapter involves retrieving one of six relics, with regions packed with bosses to defeat. Completing the main story will take most players around 30-40 hours, but those aiming for 100% completion can expect to spend over 50 hours.

1. Black Myth: Wukong Gameplay Details : Combat Mechanics Black Myth: Wukong offers a combat system that is both challenging and rewarding. The gameplay revolves around fluid and fast-paced combat, with a focus on Sun Wukong’s magical staff as the primary weapon. Players can execute a variety of combos, dodges, and special abilities to defeat enemies. The game’s combat is reminiscent of Sekiro and Bloodborne, but with its own unique twist. Unlike traditional Souls-like games, Black Myth: Wukong doesn’t feature a parry or block mechanic early on. Instead, the emphasis is on agility, precise timing, and mastering the moveset of Wukong’s staff. The game encourages players to learn enemy attack patterns and find the right moments to strike.

    

2. Transformations One of the standout features of Black Myth: Wukong is the ability to transform into different creatures and objects, inspired by Sun Wukong’s mythical abilities from Journey to the West. These transformations are not just cosmetic; they significantly impact gameplay. For example, Wukong can transform into a cicada to avoid detection or into a stone to withstand enemy attacks. These transformations add depth to the gameplay, allowing for creative problem-solving and offering multiple ways to approach combat and exploration.

    

3. Boss Battles Boss battles in Black Myth: Wukong are intense and require a mix of strategy, reflexes, and perseverance. Each boss has a distinct set of abilities and patterns that players must learn to overcome. The game doesn’t punish players too harshly for dying, as checkpoints are placed close to boss encounters, allowing for quick retries. This design choice reduces frustration and keeps players motivated to push through tough fights. The bosses are not only challenging but also visually impressive, with designs that draw heavily from Chinese mythology.

    

4. Exploration The world of Black Myth: Wukong is expansive and filled with hidden secrets, collectibles, and lore. The game world is inspired by the landscapes and mythology of ancient China, with environments ranging from dense forests and dark caves to mystical mountains and ancient ruins. Exploration is rewarded with new abilities, upgrades, and items that aid in combat. Players are encouraged to explore every nook and cranny, as many areas contain hidden paths, shortcuts, and treasures.