Black Myth: Wukong has topped the Steam charts worldwide, and it hasn’t even been released yet. Read on to learn more about its success in the West and in its home country, China.
Black Myth: Wukong Journeys to the Top of the Steam Charts
Wukong’s Rise to the Top
With its release date looming, Black Myth: Wukong has reached a fever pitch, propelling the game to the top of Steam’s best-seller charts.
The action RPG has been consistently ranked among the platform’s top 100 for nine weeks, reaching as high as 17 last week. However, a recent surge in popularity has catapulted it past established giants like Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG. These two titles have been dueling for the top two spots on Steam’s Best-Seller charts for months.
Twitter(X) user @Okami13_ noted that the game "also regularly stayed in the top 5 on Chinese Steam for the past two months."
The game’s meteoric rise may be attributed to the release of its final trailer on August 8th, which showcased new levels and enemies. Notably, the trailer’s music incorporated an actual Buddhist mantra.
For more on Black Myth: Wukong's cultural inspirations, check out the article below!
The hype surrounding Black Myth: Wukong has undoubtedly reached a global crescendo, but its impact on China has been particularly seismic. Local media has even lauded it as the epitome of Chinese AAA game development, a title that carries immense weight in a nation rapidly ascending as a gaming powerhouse with Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves in their belt.
The game was first unveiled in a 13-minute pre-alpha gameplay trailer in 2020. Even four years ago, though, the game garnered a staggering 2 million YouTube views and 10 million on the Chinese platform Bilibili in just 24 hours, according to South China Morning Post. This unprecedented attention thrust Game Science into the global spotlight, even attracting an overzealous fan who broke into the studio on a Saturday morning to express their admiration, according to IGN China.
For a studio primarily known for mobile games, the overwhelming response to Black Myth: Wukong is a monumental achievement for Game Science, especially considering the game is yet to be released.
The hype surrounding Black Myth: Wukong has been relentless. From the moment it was unveiled, players were captivated by its visuals and Souls-like combat, punctuated by epic encounters with colossal creatures. With the game’s release on August 20th for PC and PlayStation 5 just around the corner, anticipation is at a fever pitch. Only time will tell if Black Myth: Wukong can truly deliver on its immense promise.
Source:
Chinese Local Article on Black Myth: Wukong and Tencent
IGN China’s Exclusive Article on Game Science
