Black Myth: Wukong Ignites Excitement in China's Gaming Market

Black Myth: Wukong Sparks Market Surge

China's video gaming market grew by more than 15 percent year on year in August, primarily due to the popularity of Black Myth: Wukong, the country's first AAA video game, which was released on August 20. The action-role playing title, inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, developed by Hangzhou-based studio Game Science, received critical acclaim and enthusiastic reception from gamers across the globe.

Strong Revenue and Global Impact

Thanks to Black Myth: Wukong, the market generated 33.64 billion yuan (US$4.8 billion) in August, marking a 21 percent rise compared to the previous month. This remarkable performance reflects the game's success on the game distribution platform Steam, where it has sold over 20 million copies and garnered revenue exceeding US$961 million, according to data compiled by Video Game Insights.

• 25% year-on-year growth in overseas revenue for China-developed games
• Domestic mobile game sales experienced a slight decline of 1.55% in August
• NPPA approved 117 video games in August, reflecting a growing excitement in the industry

Future Predictions

According to industry consultancy Newzoo, China’s video game market revenue is projected to reach US$45 billion this year, closely trailing the US market's estimated US$47 billion figure. Together, these two countries contribute to half of the global consumer spending on games.