Initiation and Creation
The development team behind Black Myth: Wukong previously worked on the MMORPG War of the Immortals for Tencent in 2008. However, due to various constraints, the team was unable to fully realize their vision and subsequently left Tencent to establish Game Science in 2014. Leveraging their previous experience, Game Science aimed to create another game based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, giving birth to Black Myth: Wukong .
Narrative Overview
The narrative of Black Myth: Wukong takes place after the events of the novel Journey to the West. It follows the journey of the "Chosen One," who faces numerous challenges across different regions and ultimately overcomes his predestined fate. The story of Journey to the West is a well-known myth in China, and the entire development team conducted extensive research to build upon it. The team sought to recreate battles against powerful enemies such as gods and monsters. To ensure players enjoy the gameplay, considerable effort was put into the combat mechanics, with each boss having distinct attacks and movements. Players need to adapt their strategies according to the unique traits of each enemy, keeping the combat fresh and engaging. The gods and monsters faced by the player are not merely adversaries; they possess personalities and distinct characteristics .
Development Process
During the game’s creation, the development team scanned real-world temples, Buddha statues, forests, and rocks to create realistic graphics for objects, buildings, and landscapes. Advanced technologies such as Unreal Engine 5 and Nvidia’s ray tracing were utilized to make these elements appear more lifelike .
Beta Testing Information
On August 20, 2020, Black Myth: Wukong released its first gameplay demo video .
On August 20, 2021, a new gameplay demo was officially unveiled, reported by IGN to support 4K, 60fps, and ray tracing .
In August 2022, a 6-minute new gameplay video featuring the Nvidia ray tracing + DLSS was released [12-13].
On January 16, 2023, Game Science announced the release window for summer 2024 . On August 20, an offline playtest event was organized in Hangzhou, which was livestreamed on Bilibili. The game’s store pages also went live on Steam and Epic Games [4-5] . On December 8, during “TGA 2023,” a new trailer was released, announcing the official launch date of August 20, 2024 . The game will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with wishlists opening on Steam and Epic Games Store .
On February 26, 2024, the game received its official approval number for its Chinese version . On June 8, the release on Xbox platforms was delayed . On August 6, the final version’s content development was completed . On August 20, the game unlocked on PC (STEAM / EPIC GAMES / WEGAME) and PS5 . By 8:30 PM on August 20, the game had surpassed 2 million concurrent players on Steam .
Story and Character Design
Background Story
Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game set in the world of Chinese mythology. The story draws inspiration from one of the "Four Great Classical Novels" of Chinese literature, Journey to the West. Players assume the role of the "Chosen One," embarking on a perilous and wondrous journey to uncover the truth behind ancient legends. The Chosen One travels through captivating and diverse locales from the original tale, crafting a never-before-seen epic adventure. Along the way, they encounter formidable foes and worthy adversaries, engaging in intense battles to the bitter end.