Black Myth: Wukong, China's video game breakthrough sells over 10 million copies in three days

Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong has made a remarkable debut, selling over 10 million copies across all platforms within 72 hours of its release, developer Game Science announced on Friday.

Released on Tuesday morning, the game quickly became a global sensation, topping Steam's "most-played games" list just an hour after its launch.

The maximum number of concurrent players across all platforms exceeded 3 million, reflecting the game's widespread appeal.

Black Myth: Wukong is inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and focuses on the adventures of Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King known for his supernatural abilities.

The game is considered China's first "Triple-A" title, a designation reserved for high-cost, high-quality, and high-volume stand-alone games.

Industry experts predict that the game's sales will continue to surge over the weekend.

Goldman Sachs had projected that Black Myth: Wukong could achieve 12 million sales on Steam, generating over 3 billion yuan (approximately $420 million) in revenue.

In an optimistic scenario, sales could reach 20 million units, with revenue surpassing 5 billion yuan.

The game's success has not only boosted the stock prices of related companies but also spurred tourism in Shanxi Province, one of the key filming locations for the game.

The game's cultural significance has resonated with both domestic and international players, with some fans creating extensive background material to help global audiences understand its deep cultural roots.

Pan Helin, a member of an expert committee under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, highlighted the game's impact on related sectors and its role in promoting traditional Chinese culture.

Black Myth: Wukong has transcended the gaming community, becoming a cultural phenomenon celebrated for its rich heritage and modern aesthetics.

Yu Ranxing, co-founder of Game Science, expressed hope that the game would demonstrate that Chinese games could achieve world-class standards.

China, the world's largest gaming market, continues to grow, with sales revenue exceeding 300 billion yuan in 2023.

The domestic gaming market generated 147.3 billion yuan in the first half of 2024, up 2.08% year-on-year, with a record 674 million users.