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<html><body><div><p><em>Lu-Hai Liang is a U.K.-based writer.</em></p><p>China is a major video games market and is home to the world's biggest games company, Tencent Holdings, but the country's influence on the medium is still emerging internationally. One upcoming release, however, could shake things up as industry insiders and players around the globe eagerly await its reception.</p><p>The title is Black Myth: Wukong, a game developed by Hangzhou-based Game Science, which launches on PlayStation 5 and PC on Aug. 20 (an Xbox Series version is also in the works). An action role-playing game inspired by the 16th-century classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West," players control a character who resembles Sun Wukong, otherwise known as the Monkey King.</p><p>The game's trailer shows impressive visuals and stylish combat scenes, which feature beasts inspired by Chinese folklore. The level of hype has been evident at industry events such as Gamescom where queues to play a demo were over five hours long. There have even been incidents involving people breaking into Game Science's offices or turning up unannounced trying to get hired.</p><p>The significance of Black Myth: Wukong is related to an informal hierarchy in video games, which considers so-called AAA games the highest caliber. The most prestigious "triple-A" games tend to be high budget, graphically impressive, and contain a major single-player component. Games such as Sony PlayStation's Spider-Man 2 and Rockstar's forthcoming Grand Theft Auto VI are such examples, and increasingly these titles are being developed to release across platforms to maximize revenue.</p><p>China has a dynamic games industry with innovative homegrown developers, but it has yet to make its mark with single-player "premium" games on consoles. This is for historical reasons as China banned consoles for 15 years through 2015. While a gray market existed, the likes of the PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo Wii never reached the masses like they did in Japan and the West. China's games companies targeted local PC players before expanding into mobile titles.</p>        
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                        China, home to the world's biggest games company, Tencent Holdings, has a dynamic games industry with innovative homegrown developers, but it has yet to make its mark with single-player "premium" games on consoles. 



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<p>Shanghai-based HoYoverse has found great success with Genshin Impact, which was released in 2020, but the free-to-play game has drawn criticism for its monetization mechanics which are known as <em>gacha</em>. Various free-to-play games rely on players spending real-world money to purchase in-game currency, to spend on loot-boxes or on in-game cosmetic items. This model can be extremely lucrative for developers.</p><p>Black Myth: Wukong is a more traditional release, with players paying an upfront fee for a cinematic gaming experience. Xuan Li, founder and CEO of Thermite Games, a Beijing-based publisher that focuses on bringing Chinese games to a global audience, has high hopes for Game Science's title. "The foreseeable success of Black Myth: Wukong could open more opportunities for premium games in China," he said.</p><p>The business case for the game lies in its potential to influence Chinese players to pay a larger amount upfront for so-called premium games. "Black Myth: Wukong might be one of the growth drivers for the PC games market in China," said Chenyu Cui, a Shanghai-based senior games analyst for tech-focused market research firm Omdia. She attributed this to the game's "high quality graphics'' and the international buzz surrounding its release. But there is also hope that Black Myth: Wukong could transform perceptions.</p><p>The international reputation of Chinese games remains mixed, with some negativity related to the gacha mechanics found in titles such as Genshin Impact. Meanwhile, the monolithic size of Tencent can lead to unfavorable impressions with the oppressive environment created by China's government not helping. As China's economy expanded so did its games industry, and -- like many other sectors -- China's games industry insiders and local observers wish to see its products grow in prestige.</p><p>But this wish for clout can have a darker side. In November 2023, IGN published a report that highlighted alleged sexism by the developers of Black Myth: Wukong. The report cited remarks made by Game Science co-founder Feng Ji, former recruitment posters created by the studio, and interviews with female Chinese games industry workers who spoke about a "notably negative reputation" around Game Science. The article was shared widely online but the response that followed its publication was also notable. The article's writers were subject to months of online harassment that continues even now.</p><p>It is significant where some of the uglier responses are coming from. In comments found on X, abusive remarks can be seen written in simplified Chinese, so likely from mainland China. I reached out to the article's writers but they deemed it "too sensitive" to respond to questions, which perhaps indicates the fervor that surrounds the game. There is an edge to the online response and the attachment Chinese players feel for Black Myth: Wukong can tip into nationalistic pride.</p><p>One game can have a huge impact. Titles such as Super Mario Bros. and Pokemon have left a lasting cultural legacy and burnished the reputation of the country that produced them. But sometimes games cannot sustain the hype that propelled them. Whatever happens with Black Myth: Wukong, it will at least be noteworthy for creating an expectation that speaks of great desire for international renown.</p>
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Black Myth: Wukong release could redefine China's gaming industry

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