'Black Myth: Wukong' breaking stone: Journey matters more than reaching summit

In the world of gaming, there are always brave souls embarking on new journeys. This message from the official WeChat account of Black Myth: Wukong reflects the battle cry for the game itself and the future of high-quality Chinese games. The phrase "Breaking the Stone, The Monkey King Emerges" symbolizes the industry-changing potential of this Hangzhou-made game, hailed as China's first AAA title.

Prior to Wukong, China had not seen a true AAA game – one that involves massive resource investment, development time, and funding. The Chinese gaming industry, despite boasting a high volume of players, high revenues, and valuable companies, had long been faced with the question: Why hasn't China produced a blockbuster AAA title? Wukong is the result of a seven-year-long adventure that defies established norms. It offers an alternative path, one that prioritizes innovation and passion over safer commercial strategies.

Founded by a small group of former Tencent employees in 2014, Game Science set out with a simple goal: to create premium single-player games. However, after initially focusing on mobile games to gather resources, in 2018, they decided to pursue their dream of creating China's first AAA game.

The decision to use Journey to the West as the game's inspiration arose from a casual team discussion. "When we mentioned Journey to the West, everyone went silent. It triggered a shared memory and excitement," recalls Feng Ji, founder of Game Science. "We wanted to create an interactive advertisement for Journey to the West, something that could allow players worldwide to connect with and appreciate Chinese culture."

Game Science faced numerous challenges. The team started small, with only 20 people, and lacked the funds to produce at scale. Feng recalls sleepless nights over financial worries, with Wukong requiring a minimum three-year commitment and millions in investment. To build momentum, they created a 13-minute trailer showcasing a key game level, "Black Wind Mountain", not for marketing purposes but to attract talent and resources.

This unexpected move paid off. The trailer went viral, capturing the attention of gamers globally, igniting discussions on platforms like Bilibili, Weibo, and even spilling into international forums. In just one day, Game Science received over 10,000 resumes, flooding their recruitment system.

Despite the hype, Game Science was cautious about accepting investments or new talent. Feng described this period as a "fortunate accident", knowing that many other teams, more experienced or better-funded, never received the same opportunities.

The game's international appeal is a testament to the universal power of storytelling and cultural resonance. Game Science built China's first virtual asset library of ancient architecture, meticulously recreating landmarks such as the Dazu Rock Carvings and Lingyin Temple. Every frame in Wukong is a visual celebration of Chinese aesthetics, down to the smallest details, such as a simple porcelain teapot that sparked online discussions for its potential historical origin.

The game's soundtrack, built on the framework of classical Chinese music, resonated unexpectedly with Western audiences. As Yang Qi, Game Science's art director, observed, "The belief that 'what is national is also universal' holds true."

Black Myth: Wukong's success signals a shift in the global gaming landscape. With over 2.2 million peak concurrent players on Steam within 12 hours of launch, it's clear that China is capable of delivering AAA games that rival those from the West. The game's success has inspired Chinese gaming giants like Tencent, NetEase, and miHoYo to explore their own AAA projects, while smaller studios are beginning to establish partnerships with international gaming platforms.

The journey ahead for Wukong may still be filled with obstacles, but for now, it stands as a trailblazer in Chinese gaming – proof that sometimes the journey matters more than the final destination.