10 million copies sold in 3 days, the studio behind it is currently valued at nearly 2 billion USD, the influence is so terrible that it saved an entire industry.

After years of anticipation, China’s Game Science finally launched Black Myth: Wukong in August and immediately received global acclaim. 10 million copies were sold in just 3 days — one of the fastest and most successful launches in history.

State media such as CCTV and Xinhua, which have long criticized the influence of video games, hailed Wukong as a cultural triumph that introduced Chinese heritage to a global audience. Xinhua declared, “Wukong carries the essence of our cultural spirit.”

Some call Wukong’s global appeal “China’s K-pop moment,” signaling that the country can use soft power to get ahead. People’s Daily also stated that game developers should take advantage of this trend to promote their country’s culture.

This is surprising, especially considering China’s longstanding prejudice against video games. This country is home to the world’s largest video game industry, but many of the giants are tightly controlled. Minors are strictly restricted and can only play for 1 hour a day.

Wukong was born and marked a drastic change. The Department of Culture and Tourism of Shanxi, northwest China, even released a video introducing real-life locations inspired by the game. The hotel service industry also takes advantage of Wukong’s success, decorating hotels with their own themes so that visitors can experience new feelings.

The global gaming industry is valued at $200 billion — far surpassing even movies and music. China is the world’s largest gaming market with nearly 700 million players. Industry consulting firm Newzoo predicts video game revenue in the country will reach $45 billion this year compared with $47 billion in the US market, where there are about 210 million players. Chinese tech giant Tencent is the world’s largest game distributor, having reported mobile game revenue of $25.6 million in 2023.

According to experts, China should take advantage of this opportunity to boost domestic demand, while recovering an economy that is slowing down due to weakening investor confidence.

However, Wukong’s success is considered uncertain because it is an exception in the Chinese game industry. Game Science founder Feng Ji has criticized the Chinese gaming industry for focusing too much on profits instead of innovation.

Wukong is an “AAA” title in the industry, which is the equivalent of a big-budget blockbuster released for PCs and consoles instead of smartphones. They usually don’t have many players but can dominate online chat rankings and win the majority of prizes. These games often come from Japan, America, and Europe — places with long histories in the gaming industry. Wukong is China’s first AAA game.

Wukong achieved global success after drawing inspiration from one of China’s most iconic myths. The game stars Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, from the classic story Journey to the West. Focusing on a single story is a gamble at a time when public perception of China is increasingly negative.

Veteran developer Stephen Gou told Rest of World that he credits Wukong’s success to its focus on quality over profits. Many believe the cultural aspect of the game contributed to its warm reception by state media, thereby making it a symbol of China’s soft power.

Daniel Camilo, a gaming consultant based in Shenzhen, China, points out that Wukong has attracted the attention of a global audience thanks to smart marketing. “No matter how good a game is, it lives or dies based on marketing,” he told Rest of World. Wukong’s flashy first trailer is a masterstroke. The initial launch looked impressive and very elaborate.”

Wukong’s cultural story has received praise from critics worldwide. Gaming website IGN praised the game’s “rich Chinese culture” and visual sophistication, while GameSpot praised the creation of legendary characters such as Zhu Bajie and the Ox Demon King.

“Wukong is a game-changer. It marks a major change in the way Chinese games are viewed globally,” said one expert.

However, according to Sean, a Chinese developer, Wukong’s huge success and state backing could cause a wave of copying, risking diluting its groundbreaking impact.

“Following the same formula may deliver quick wins, but risks losing the excitement that makes Wukong special,” he said.

It is known that Studio Game Science, the small studio founded in 2014 behind Wukong’s success, has now reached a valuation of 1.8 billion USD – a dream that founder Feng Ji probably never thought of. This man, currently Game Science’s largest shareholder, has amassed a fortune of about $770 million, according to Forbes.

Black Myth: Wukong is on track to sell 35 million copies this year, with total revenue expected to exceed $1 billion. This number is too large compared to the 56 million USD capital used to develop the game over 6 years.

According to: Rest of World, Forbes