Black Myth: WukongThe action RPG developed by Chinese studio Game Science had a very successful launch following its release on August 20, 2024 for PC and PS5. Higher sales, particularly within China, reflect the continued industrialization of Chinese game development, the growing global influence of Chinese studios, and changing consumer preferences in China. Black Myth: Wukong Reaching more than 2.2 million peak users (PCCU) on Steam within its first 24 hours, it is the most popular single-player game by PCCU in the platform’s history. It’s second among all PCCU games, with PUBG peaking at 3.2 million.

First announced in August 2020, the game is heavily inspired by Chinese mythology and based on the classic novel Journey to the WestIt features Sun Wukong or “The Monkey King” as its protagonist. The high-quality graphics, transformative (literally) gameplay, and cultural connection resonated strongly with Chinese gamers, with the first trailer surpassing 55 million views on video site Blibili. It became the most viewed gaming trailer of all time on the platform. Initial interest, ongoing trailer releases, and marketing push translated into more than 4 million gamers. It became the most liked game on the platform in early 2024.

Black Myth: WukongIts strong performance in China is primarily due to continued access to the international version of Steam, which is accessible without a VPN. Over 93% of the 250,000 reviews on Steam are in Simplified Chinese, and 97% of these reviews are positive. On August 20, Steam’s download bandwidth hit 79.3Tbps, further proving the game’s immense popularity in China, of which Asia accounts for 82%, breaking the previous record. Cyberpunk 2077(51Tbps) launch date in 2020.

The game received positive reviews on Steam from Chinese gamers

The game’s success is not limited to digital platforms. Physical editions of the game, including collectors’ and deluxe editions, sold out in seconds on JD.com, as more than 700,000 gamers signed up for a chance to purchase a limited edition of 30,000 copies. Game Science has capitalized on this interest by partnering with brands such as Lenovo to have their PC hardware optimized for the game and on-ground implementation with Luckin Coffee, including branded merchandise and promotional offers. The buzz surrounding each of these led to much conversation on social media, with 1.7 billion views on Weibo on launch day, and the game even being covered by national news programs in China. The success of Black Myth: Wukong It also attracted international media attention. Lisa Cosmas Hansen is the CEO of Niko Partners spoke to Bloomberg About how Black Myth: Wukong The PS5 is driving sales and proving Chinese gamers’ appetite for high-quality games

Niko Partners was able to track the title’s success on game live streaming platforms in China using our data tools. According to Nico Partners’ China Games & Streaming Tracker, Black Myth: Wukong The game was the most viewed on the day of its release on Houya, Douyu and Blibili, beating other popular titles like it. League of Legends, The honor of kings And Assessment. According to our Niko Index, the game had 29 million viewers across 3 platforms. More than $1 million was donated to streamers who played the game on this day. This was the record breaking record for a single player game on Chinese game live streaming platforms. Cyberpunk 2077′Measurements of 2020. China Games & Streaming Tracker provides a window into black box domestic streaming platforms to support the games industry in understanding the most popular games, streamers and overall engagement.

Black Myth: Wukong is the number one most watched game on China Games & Streaming Tracker

The success of Black Myth: Wukong Highlighting a significant shift in the landscape of global video games for both Chinese and non-Chinese developers.

First, the broader implications of this success cannot be overlooked. This signals that Chinese studios are ready to compete directly with established Western and Japanese developers in the premium AAA space. Backed by heavyweights such as Tencent and Hero Games, Game Science’s transition from mobile game development to creating a world-class AAA title is a path many Chinese game developers are already trying to emulate with growing success.

Second, the sport’s popularity reflects changing consumer preferences within China. According to Niko Partners’ 2024 China Gamer Behavior & Market Insights Report, free-to-play games accounted for nearly 90% of total player spending last year, with mobile accounting for 68.7% of total spending and 90% of players. The lifting of the console ban in 2014, access to an international version of Steam, the shift to digital distribution, an increased propensity to pay for content, high-quality single-player & multiplayer game offerings, an online connection requirement (to prevent piracy), localized payment systems, and regional pricing are driving premium game adoption in China. Key drivers. In short, paid games account for a large share of revenue every year.

Games like Overwatch (2016), was one of the first successful premium games in China and sold more than 10 million units, showing that Chinese players are willing to pay for premium experiences, and Black Myth: Wukong Further confirming this trend. Despite the console’s historically dominant position in China, despite the console’s ban being lifted in 2014, the PlayStation 5 outsold its predecessor in the country 2 times faster and has become the established platform alongside the Nintendo Switch. A limited-time deal on the PlayStation 5 that runs this week has led to a surge in sales for the console, further cementing these changing gamer preferences in the market.

In conclusion, Black Myth: Wukong It’s more than just a success story, it’s indicative of the growing capabilities and ambitions of Chinese game development studios and their ability to compete on the global stage. While non-Chinese developers will have to take on this new challenge and contend with them, it also represents an opportunity for collaboration and learning. At the same time, the game’s success as a premium title represents a broader shift in market dynamics within China, and represents an opportunity for non-Chinese developers to benefit from geographic expansion and existing AA/AAA offerings.

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