Author: Sansheng

It's all over the internet! Golden Monkey wields a mighty staff, stunning the gaming community!

After six long years of development, the domestic game masterpiece 'Black Myth: Wukong' (hereinafter referred to as 'Black Myth') was officially released on August 20. With the auras of "China's first 3A game," "Journey to the West IP," and "a milestone and industrial miracle for China's gaming industry," the game's popularity far exceeded expectations, breaking through the gaming community's boundaries.

In fact, even a month before the game's release, during the pre-sale stage, 'Black Myth' had already achieved phenomenal sales of 1.2 million copies and nearly 400 million yuan in revenue. As of August 20, sales exceeded 4.5 million copies across all platforms, generating over 1.5 billion yuan in revenue, skyrocketing to the top of Steam's global weekly sales chart and dominating charts in 12 regions including the US and Singapore.

Regarding the quality of 'Black Myth,' 54 global media outlets gave the game an average rating of 82 out of 100, with many awarding full marks. Industry insiders predict that future sales of 'Black Myth' will exceed 10 million copies, potentially generating at least 3 billion yuan in revenue.

Many who don't play games regularly are also wondering, what exactly is 'Black Myth'? What does 3A masterpiece mean? What does it have to do with Journey to the West? Why does a game have such a significant impact?

Below, we'll provide a comprehensive introduction and overview of everything related to 'Black Myth.'

01 How popular is 'Black Myth'?

The popularity of 'Black Myth' is evident from a single trending topic.

Immediately after the game's release, Wang Teng, Vice President of Xiaomi's China Market Department and General Manager of the Redmi brand, posted a screenshot of downloading 'Black Myth: Wukong' upon arriving at work in the morning.

Soon after, the hashtag '#Netizens Report Wang Teng for Slacking Off at Work Like Lei Jun' trended. While most netizens were joking, it still demonstrated the game's immense popularity. Moreover, this enthusiasm extended beyond China's borders.

To date, the number of online players for 'Black Myth' has surpassed 2 million. Some netizens have calculated that, based on the 100,000 heavenly soldiers in Heaven, each soldier would need to fight 20 monkeys, which would be insufficient.

So, the first question arises: How much does it cost to play this game?

Currently, 'Black Myth' employs a one-time purchase model with four price tiers: Digital Standard Edition at 268 yuan, Digital Deluxe Edition at 328 yuan, Physical Deluxe Edition at 820 yuan, and Physical Collector's Edition at 1998 yuan.

Based on industry estimates of 300-400 million yuan in development costs, the game recouped its costs and turned a profit with 1.5 billion yuan in sales on the day of its release.

Furthermore, merchandise sales for 'Black Myth' have already commenced. Two months before the game's release, the Physical Gift Box priced at nearly 2000 yuan had over 300,000 pre-orders on JD.com.

Moreover, Hisense launched the 'Black Myth' co-branded flagship E8N TV series, Lenovo Legion introduced the Y9000P 'Black Myth' co-branded laptop, DiDi Qingju released a co-branded shared bike, Jicoss Industries launched the 'Heart Monkey' clothing line, and Nubia Red Magic announced the 'Destiny Equipment' new gaming tablet...

This game has become a phenomenon.

02 What is a '3A Game Masterpiece'?

3A refers to high cost, high quality, and high development time, representing the highest standards in the industry for large-scale, high-quality standalone games.

3A games are characterized by significant investments, long development cycles, and high risks, posing a significant challenge for game companies. Even gaming giants like Tencent, NetEase, and miHoYo are hesitant to dabble in 3A games.

This is why the emergence of 'Black Myth' caused such excitement in China's gaming industry. As China's first 3A game, it marks a milestone in the industry.

Unlike free-to-play mobile games with social elements, most 3A games adopt a buy-to-play model, typically priced around 60 USD internationally. While this may seem pricey, it's significantly cheaper than free-to-play games with microtransactions.

These games resemble expensive, long-lasting commercial blockbusters, with high upfront investments recouped through marketing and sales post-launch, eventually leading to IP-based merchandise development.

03 What is the backstory of 'Black Myth'?

'Black Myth' draws its narrative from the classic Journey to the West but is set after the successful pilgrimage to the West. At this point, Sun Wukong has become the Victorious Fighting Buddha, but he yearns to return to the Flower Fruit Mountain for a carefree life. Consequently, he clashes with Heaven once again, engaging in combat with deities like Erlang Shen, after which Sun Wukong disappears.

Players take on the role of a 'Destined One' similar in appearance and personality to Sun Wukong, embarking on a journey to find and save the Great Sage.

In terms of gameplay, 'Black Myth' adheres to the original source material, with players leveling up by defeating various monsters, offering a fresh take on traditional stories while making gameplay rules intuitive.

04 What's it like to play 'Black Myth'?

Given 3A games' demanding system requirements, players should check their PC's specifications before diving in. Here are the official PC requirements:

Minimum Requirements: Processor i5-8400/Ryzen 5 1600; GPU GTX 1060 (6GB VRAM)/RX 580 (8GB VRAM); RAM 16GB; 130GB HDD space (SSD recommended).

Recommended Requirements: Processor i7-9700/Ryzen 5 5500; GPU RTX 2060/RX 5700XT/Arc A750; RAM 16GB; 130GB SSD space.

For 4K gaming, a powerful GPU like the RTX 4080 SUPER (16GB VRAM) is recommended.

Players have praised the game's graphics and soundtrack the most. With immersive visuals and multiple graphic settings, players can see detailed skin textures in 4K mode, and each level features unique monsters, enhancing replayability.

The soundtrack features traditional elements, including a symphonic version of the opening theme from the 1986 TV series 'Journey to the West,' adding grandeur. Sound effects are spot-on, enhancing immersion.

Of course, individual gameplay experiences may vary. Some players have reported motion sickness from the 3D graphics, with prolonged exposure causing discomfort.

05 The rise of a gaming addict: Who made 'Black Myth'?

'Black Myth' is developed by Game Science, previously known for two card games ('Hundred Heroes' and 'Art of War: Red Tide'). Its founder is Feng Ji.

(Screenshot from a Xinhua News interview)

Feng Ji's life story could be titled 'The Rise of a Gaming Addict.' In 2004, while studying biomedical engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Feng Ji became hooked on 'World of Warcraft,' spending three months immersed in internet cafes. He abandoned his graduate school aspirations and squandered his savings. Desperate for gaming funds, he borrowed money from roommates, only to squander it again within five months.

Fortunately, his deep understanding of 'World of Warcraft' landed him a job as a game designer at a gaming company, where he adopted the name 'Yuka' and embarked on a career in game development.

However, Feng Ji's career wasn't smooth sailing. In 2007, frustrated by industry irregularities, he penned a 10,000-word essay, 'Who Murdered Our Games?,' critiquing the industry's pursuit of quick profits. Over a decade later, his words reflect a rational approach to game development.

Feng Ji later joined Tencent, where he developed the popular web game 'Dou Zhan Shen' (Fighting God), starring Sun Wukong. However, due to conflicts between content and profitability, he left with his team to found Game Science.

For a long time, the gaming industry boomed with online games. Feng Ji, like Sun Wukong under Five Elements Mountain, awaited his savior. During this period, NetEase became China's top online game developer with 'Fantasy Westward Journey,' while Tencent dominated the casual gaming market with its Game Hall. With the rise of mobile internet, 'Honor of Kings' and the 'Fantasy Westward Journey' mobile game launched in 2015, followed by 'Genshin Impact' in 2020.

Amidst this boom, Feng Ji persisted in his vision, finally pushing open the door to the 3A gaming world after 14 years, setting a benchmark for China's gaming industry. Dubbed the 'Interstellar' of gaming and 'the hope of the village,' 'Black Myth' lived up to pre-release expectations.

06 How significant is 'Black Myth's' impact?

'Black Myth' has transcended gaming circles, with its influence visible in industry, capital, and sociocultural aspects.

In the industry, 'Black Myth's' popularity opens new horizons for China's standalone gaming market. In a recent interview, Feng Ji noted that in 2016, the US standalone gaming market was worth $10 billion, Japan's was $5 billion, while China's was less than $100 million. He believes the market exists but lacks quality products, which fueled his commitment to 'Black Myth: Wukong.'

His success underscores the lack of a quality product, not a market, in China's standalone gaming scene.

As a phenomenal product, 'Black Myth' is expected to maintain its influence for a long time. Long-tail effects ensure a steady player base, similar to 'Legend of Mir' 20 years ago. Moreover, successful standalone games can easily transition to mobile platforms.

While 'Black Myth's' gameplay doesn't align with mobile gaming trends, the semi-standalone 'Genshin Impact' proved successful, hinting at 'Black Myth's' mobile potential.

In terms of capital, while Game Science isn't publicly traded, the 'Black Myth' concept has driven A-share gains.

On August 20, Zhejiang Publishing & Media Group, the publisher of 'Black Myth,' surged on the stock market, while CITIC Press, the producer of 'Black Myth' merchandise, jumped 20.02%.

Related companies also benefited. Huayi Brothers surged over 19% on August 20 due to Tianjin Hero Golden Control Technology's 19% stake in Game Science, which Huayi Brothers indirectly holds through Hero Entertainment.

Even Shanxi Expressway saw a 9.93% jump, as many 'Black Myth' locations are set in Shanxi, potentially boosting local tourism.

Beyond industry and capital, 'Black Myth's' cultural impact may be even more profound. On an international platform, the top-rated comment praised the game's potential to reach the West, echoing 'Journey to the West's' English title.

To better understand the game, foreign players have delved into 'Journey to the West,' appreciating Chinese culture. US gaming blogger Travis remarked, 'For the first time, a game has inspired global players to spontaneously delve into every page and inscription.' 'Wukong' offers an immersive Chinese cultural experience.

More broadly, whether in film, animation, gaming, or Chinese enterprises going global, showcasing Chinese culture is increasingly crucial. Cultural products and influence form a virtuous cycle.

China has never been short of culture or stories, and the explosion of popularity of Black Myth is just the beginning.