Black Myth: Wukong Phenomenon Boosts PS5 Console Demand

Black Myth: Wukong Drives PS5 Sales

Mainland China’s Black Myth: Wukong mania has boosted domestic sales of video gaming-related hardware, with Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation 5 console seeing particularly high demand. The hit action role-playing game, developed by Tencent Holdings-backed studio Game Science and based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, has sold at least 4.5 million copies since its release on Tuesday for the PS5 and PCs.

Surge in Demand

• Yan Fang, a gaming hardware merchant in Shanghai, noted the PS5 as the best option for those wishing to experience Wukong without the need for expensive PC hardware.
• Inquiries about PS5 availability surged, with stock at Sony’s flagship store in Shanghai disappearing rapidly.
• On Xianyu, Alibaba Group Holding’s online marketplace, PS5 searches skyrocketed by 300% this month.

Marketing Impact

The launch of Black Myth: Wukong is transforming gaming hardware sales dynamics in China. With PS5 becoming a hot item on Tmall, combined transaction volumes reflect immense interest as domestic consumer spending rises.

Students like Li Shuyan at Hong Kong Baptist University are driven by the prospect of enhanced gameplay on the PS5, mirroring a larger trend in hardware upgrade among mainland gamers.

For PC gamers, high-performance setups are essential, requiring at least an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and a capable graphics card to run Black Myth: Wukong.

This unprecedented interest in gaming hardware aligns with projections that place China’s video game market earnings at US$45 billion in 2023, according to Newzoo.