Summary
- Black Myth: Wukong's launch boosts PS5 sales in China, leading to a surge in demand for the console.
- The game's success has reinvigorated China's console market, typically overshadowed by mobile gaming.
- Rooted in Chinese mythology, Black Myth: Wukong has quickly gained popularity and surpassed other leading RPGs.
Owing to Black Myth: Wukong's highly successful launch, Sony's PS5 is experiencing a notable surge in sales in China. Black Myth: Wukong comes from Chinese developer Game Science and is also available to play on PC, with an Xbox Series X/S launch planned for the future.
Since rolling out on August 20, Black Myth: Wukong has taken the gaming world by storm, selling millions of copies in a short span and getting positive reviews from most critics. It also attracted a flood of players on PC within hours of launch, eventually becoming Steam's most-played single-player game ever. As it turns out, Black Myth: Wukong's smashing success hasn't just benefited platforms like Steam but has also trickled onto the console it is exclusively available on for now.
Is Black Myth: Wukong a Soulslike?
Black Myth: Wukong seems like it has what it takes to qualify as a true Soulslike game, but its action RPG elements may prevent that from happening.
As per a Bloomberg report, Black Myth: Wukong stirred a significant bump in demand for the PS5 in China, leading to gamers going on an "unusual buying spree." The source states that Sony's console reached the top of e-commerce leader Alibaba's electronics game equipment list in the week before Black Myth's launch. Apparently, PS5 sales during that week were twice as much compared to the same period in the previous year. It added that the monkey protagonist-led game also peaked on Alibaba's Taobao hot search on the day of its release, hinting at the high levels of interest in the product.
Black Myth: Wukong Boosts PS5 Sales in an Otherwise Lukewarm Market
Notably, Black Myth: Wukong's arrival has breathed new life into China's console market, which has usually played second fiddle to the more popular mobile gaming sector in the country. The impressive volume of Black Myth-driven console sales is far from the norm in China despite console giants like Sony and Nintendo having tried to crack the market in the past. The report notes that the Chinese-made game prompted many consumers to buy new gaming hardware in the build-up to its launch.
Being rooted in Chinese mythology, Black Myth: Wukong is a breath of fresh air in the gaming landscape. Thanks to its portrayal of the classical tale, Journey to the West, the game has quickly cultivated a mass following in China in particular. Having already beaten the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring in terms of peak concurrent players on Steam, it is gradually cementing its place among some highly rated role-playing experiences. With Game Science promising fixes and an overall improved quality in future updates, it will be interesting to see how long Black Myth: Wukong can retain its current share of players.
Black Myth: Wukong
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 80%
- Released
- August 20, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Science
- Publisher(s)
- Game Science
WHERE TO PLAY
Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology and based on Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.
You shall set out as the Destined One to venture into the challenges and marvels ahead, to uncover the obscured truth beneath the veil of a glorious legend from the past.
As the Destined One, you shall encounter powerful foes and worthy rivals throughout your journey. Fearlessly engage them in epic battles where surrender is not an option.
Aside from mastering various staff techniques, you can also freely combine different spells, abilities, weapons, and equipment to find the winning strategy that best suits your combat style.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 39 hours
