Wikipedia

Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong (黑神话：悟空) is an upcoming action role-playing game developed and published by Game Science. It is inspired by the 16th-century classical Chinese novel Journey to the West. It is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5 and Windows on August 20, 2024, with an Xbox Series X/S version slated for a later release.

Black Myth: Wukong
Developer(s)Game Science
Publisher(s)Game Science
Producer(s)Feng Ji
Yang Qi
Artist(s)Yang Qi
EngineUnreal Engine 5[1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • PlayStation 5, Windows
  • August 20, 2024
  • Xbox Series X/S
  • TBA
Genre(s)Action role-playing, soulslike
Mode(s)Single-player
Black Myth: Wukong
Simplified Chinese黑神话：悟空
Traditional Chinese黑神話：悟空

The game is reportedly the first installment in an expected Black Myth series, which will explore different stories in Chinese mythology.[2]

Gameplay

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Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game.[3][4][5] It has sometimes been described as similar to soulslike games in the media during the pre-release, even though Game Science does not consider it as soulslike.[6] It is inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West.[7][8]

The player controls a monkey referred to as the Destined One,[3][4][9] who is based on Sun Wukong from the novel.[3][9] The character's primary weapon is a staff known as the Ruyi Jingu Bang.[5] The player can make use of the character's various abilities and spells, including transformation spells that change the character into a different creature or being.[3][5] One of the transformations is Guangzhi, a wolfman who wields a fire glaive.[3][5] The game has a skill tree to upgrade the character.[3][4]

The game follows a mostly linear progression interspersed with larger areas.[10] The enemies come as the various yaoguai encountered throughout the world.[5][10]

Soundtrack

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The game has been authorized by the China Central Television to use the theme song from its 1986 TV series Journey to the West.[11]

Marketing

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On August 20, 2020, the developer Game Science released a trailer comprising gameplay in the pre-alpha build.[12] It demonstrates the game on Unreal Engine 4.[13] It shows a montage of the protagonist venturing through the world and fighting various foes.[13] Within one day, the video had nearly two million views on YouTube and ten million views on Bilibili.[14] The game had been in development for about two years by the time the video released.[2]

On February 8, 2021, Game Science released a promotional video in celebration of the upcoming year of the ox.[15] The footage does not represent the game's plot, but it gives a look to its visuals.[16]

On August 19, 2021, Game Science released an Unreal Engine 5 gameplay trailer.[17] It revealed that they made the move to develop the game on Unreal Engine 5.[18]

As of June 2024, the game is the most wishlisted on Steam according to SteamDB.[19]

Release

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In a 2020 interview with IGN China, Game Science said that they planned to release the game no less than three years from then.[20] They aim to release the game for PC as well as mainstream consoles.[21] In January 2023, they released a short film for the upcoming year of the rabbit, which revealed that the game would be released in the summer of 2024.[22]

At The Game Awards 2023, Game Science released a trailer announcing the game's release date as August 20, 2024.[8][23] In June 2024, they announced that the Xbox Series X/S version was delayed for optimization on the platform.[24][25]

On release, the game will come in four editions: Standard Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Collector's Edition.[26][27] The latter three editions will come with in-game bonus content and a digital soundtrack, which are the same across these editions.[26][27] The in-game bonus content comprise the Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, Folk Opera Buskins, and Wind Chimes.[27] All pre-orders of any edition come with the in-game content Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd, but this can also be obtained through in-game progression.[27] The two physical editions—the Deluxe Edition and the Collector's Edition—will come with physical collectibles,[26][27] but do not contain a physical disc.[26][28] Instead, both physical editions will come with an activation code for the Digital Deluxe Edition on WeGame for JD.com purchases or Steam for overseas purchases.[28] Game Science stated that they are exploring options to offer physical discs, but that limitations in offline resources have made it difficult to offer physical discs simultaneously with the release.[28]

References

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  1. ^ Skrebels, Joe (August 19, 2021). "Black Myth: Wukong Switches to Unreal Engine 5 - Supports 4K, 60FPS, Ray Tracing, and More". IGN. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Young, Charles (September 11, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong - The World Exclusive Story Behind the Breakout Action-RPG". IGN.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Wood, Austin (June 16, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is easily among the best and best-looking action RPGs I've played in years, and after 2 hours hands-on I see why the devs don't call it a Soulslike". GamesRadar+.
  4. ^ a b c Smith, Mat (June 18, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is pretty, intriguing and as challenging as it looks". Engadget.
  5. ^ a b c d e Van Aken, Alex (August 20, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Preview - A Classic Tale Retold". Game Informer.
  6. ^ Thorn, Ed (July 1, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is a pleasantly surprising Soulslike, even if it's given me an enemy for life". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
  7. ^ Van Allen, Eric (August 20, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong Is an Upcoming Soulslike Adaptation of a Classic Chinese Novel". USgamer. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Holiday, Charming (December 8, 2023). "Black Myth: Wukong Confirms 2024 Release Date". Game Rant. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Peachey, Jack (December 10, 2023). "Black Myth: Wukong's Character and Enemy Design Set It Apart From Other Soulslike Games". Game Rant.
  10. ^ a b Nightingale, Ed (June 25, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is a brilliant boss rush, but is it a Soulslike?". Eurogamer.
  11. ^ "《黑神话：悟空》获得86版《西游记》序曲"云宫迅音"正版授权 _ 游民星空". GamerSky (in Chinese). August 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Black Myth: Wukong - 13 Minutes Official Gameplay Trailer". YouTube. Game Science. August 20, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Hollis, Daniel (August 20, 2020). "'Black Myth: Wukong' announced with stunning gameplay footage". NME.
  14. ^ Ye, Josh (August 21, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong in race to become China's first AAA game". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "Black Myth: Wukong - Chinese New Year greetings". YouTube. Game Science. February 8, 2021.
  16. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (February 9, 2021). "Black Myth: Wukong re-emerges with another stunning gameplay video". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Black Myth: Wukong 12 Minutes UE5 Gameplay Test". YouTube. Game Science. August 19, 2021.
  18. ^ Cryer, Hirun (August 20, 2021). "Black Myth: Wukong trailer reveals switch to Unreal Engine 5". GamesRadar+.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ Skrebels, Joe (September 11, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong - 19 New Details We've Learned". IGN. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021.
  21. ^ Skrebels, Joe (August 21, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong Developer Responds to Huge Popularity of First Trailer". IGN. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020.
  22. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (January 16, 2023). "Black Myth: WuKong Launches Summer 2024". IGN. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023.
  23. ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (December 7, 2023). "Black Myth: Wukong Gets August Release Date In New Gameplay Trailer". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023.
  24. ^ Nightingale, Ed (June 7, 2024). "Black Myth Wukong won't be on Xbox at launch". Eurogamer.
  25. ^ Schomer, Matthew (June 8, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Dev Has Bad News for Xbox Gamers". Game Rant.
  26. ^ a b c d Karoglou, Matt (June 12, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong - All Editions and Pre-Order Bonuses Explained". Game Rant.
  27. ^ a b c d e Coulson, Josh (June 10, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Pre-Orders Include A $400 Collector's Edition". TheGamer.
  28. ^ a b c Flores, Johnny Jr (June 8, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Won't Have A Disc When It Launches Physically In August". TheGamer.
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