Black Myth: Wukong Sparks a Surge in China’s Video Gaming Sector with 117 New Approvals

Black Myth: Wukong Leads Video Gaming Revolution in China

China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) has recently approved 117 video games, the largest batch in 2024, highlighting the explosive growth in the video gaming sector fueled by the excitement surrounding Black Myth: Wukong.

Significant Titles Approved

• Yirenzhixia from Tencent
• Jiewai Kuangchao from NetEase
• Huangyuan Shuguang, a title from Alibaba's Lingxi Games

Alongside these titles, major gaming companies including Perfect World and Yoozoo Games have also received licenses. State-run telecom firms China Mobile and China Telecom have contributed to this surge, granting licenses to multiple submissions through their own app stores and game divisions.

Resurgence of the Market

The NPPA has licensed a total of 850 games within the first eight months of the year, a commendable increase from 609 in the same timeframe the previous year. This approval trend marks a notable recovery for China’s video gaming market since the regulatory freeze that ended in April 2022.

Hit Game Impact

Black Myth: Wukong has become a phenomenal success, amassing over 10 million copies sold in just three days post-launch. This Tencent-backed action role-playing game, inspired by the classic Journey to the West, is available on platforms like Sony's PlayStation 5 and Steam, with plans for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and S still pending announcement. Such demand for this title is poised to enhance consumer spending, with projections by Newzoo estimating the market to reach an impressive US$45 billion.