China’s Gaming Paradox: Black Myth: Wukong’s Success Spurs Enthusiasm and Reveals Challenges for Small Game Developers

Black Myth: Wukong brings hope to some, yet poses challenges for minor Chinese game creators. Even though China's inaugural AAA video game has strengthened the faith in the industry, not everyone can obtain support from Tencent or the government.

Nestled in the southeastern outskirts of Hangzhou, a city in Eastern China, security personnel are stationed at several unremarkable four-level villas to discourage tourists from snapping pictures. These guards are on duty around the clock, entrusted with the significant task of ensuring that the game developers from Game Science can work without interruptions.

"Numerous enthusiasts have approached me, inquiring about the location of the Game Science building," shared Wang Dan, a local trader in the town. "Until the previous week, I was oblivious to the company's vast popularity."

The previous week was a game changer. Within the initial four days after its launch, Black Myth saw over 10 million units sold, as reported by Game Science. The count of active players on the online gaming platform, Steam, exceeded that of other renowned AAA games, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, making Black Myth the most popular solo-player game globally.

The overwhelming positive feedback has increased the optimism of China's video gaming sector regarding the possibility of creating another high-budget, blockbuster game that might take years to develop – a common characteristic of games that earn the unofficial AAA status. However, this optimism may overlook the various hurdles that the industry still has to overcome, such as stringent government restrictions, a traditionalist society, and the tendency to seek the fastest way to generate revenue.