Black Myth: Wukong: The Rise of China’s First AAA Game
Game Science’s Journey from Humble Beginnings
Black Myth: Wukong has captivated the global gaming community, bringing unprecedented attention to Game Science, a once low-profile studio in China. Founded in 2014 in Shenzhen by Feng Ji, a former Tencent Holdings game designer, Game Science has achieved what many thought impossible: creating China’s first AAA video game. After six years of dedicated development, this 3D action game has become the hottest single-player title on Steam, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s biggest games.
Feng Ji’s Long-Standing Vision
Feng Ji’s passion for the Monkey King, Wukong, from the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, began during his time at Tencent. He was a core member of the development team for Asura, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game inspired by an online novel adaptation of Wukong’s tale. Asura made a significant impact in China upon its 2014 release. This success encouraged Feng and Yang Qi, the lead artist for Asura, to leave Tencent and establish Game Science.
Challenges and Triumphs in Game Development
In 2018, Game Science embarked on the ambitious journey to create Black Myth: Wukong with a team of just 13 members. Seeking a slower-paced environment with lower living costs, the team moved from Shenzhen to Hangzhou. As development progressed, the studio faced the challenge of attracting more talent, which led to the release of a promotional video in 2020. This video was a turning point, helping Game Science expand its team to 140 members.
Creating a single-player game in China, where the industry typically focuses on online games with revenue driven by in-game purchases, was a significant risk. However, this gamble paid off when Black Myth: Wukong recorded 2.22 million concurrent players within 24 hours of its release, marking the second-highest count ever on Steam.
Navigating China’s Gaming Regulations
Developing Black Myth: Wukong under China’s strict video gaming regulations added another layer of complexity. All games in China must be licensed for commercial release, and minors are restricted to playing for just three hours per week. Despite these hurdles, the game, which reportedly takes over 30 hours to complete, has flourished.
The estimated budget for Black Myth: Wukong is over US$40 million—relatively modest for a AAA game. By comparison, the production cost for Cyberpunk 2077 exceeded US$400 million. Despite the smaller budget, Game Science’s achievement is monumental, especially given the challenges posed by China’s gaming environment.