"Black Myth: Wu Kong": Unapologetically Chinese
The game is the first of its kind to prioritize the experience of a Chinese audience.
In the last 24 hours, Steam has witnessed a new record—2.22 million concurrent players for the Chinese-made "Black Myth: Wu Kong," merely hours after its release at 10 AM Beijing time on August 20th. The role-playing game inspired by Chinese mythology has surpassed other blockbuster titles such as "DOTA 2," "Cyberpunk 2077," and "Elden Ring," trailing only behind PUBG.
"Black Myths: Wu Kong" at the top of Steam's global most-played and best-selling game list
The heat of the game is palpable in China. On their way to work, a Chinese "Black Myth" player might encounter posters of the game in metro stations, cafes hawking “Black Myth”-inspired coffee, and shared bikes adorned with Wu Kong’s clothing patterns. A bold one might even sneak in some video game streaming at work, as many game influencers have been streaming "Black Myth" around the clock. The game's success has even boosted the stock prices of its publisher and investors in China’s A-share stock market.
Wu Kong, the name of the p…
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