(Source: https://pltfrm.com.cn)
Background and Achievements
“Black Myth: Wukong,” a third-person action RPG developed by Hangzhou Game Science Studio, shattered records upon its release, selling over 10 million copies on the first night and reaching a peak of 3 million concurrent online players. In just two days, the game generated over 3 billion RMB in revenue, setting a new milestone for AAA games in China. These astounding figures not only highlight the game’s popularity but also underscore the enormous potential of the Chinese gaming market.
Development Journey and Technological Breakthroughs
The development team for “Black Myth: Wukong” comprised 140 members, working tirelessly over six years with a budget of approximately $100 million. The game was built using the latest Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), which allowed it to achieve top-tier visual performance, making it one of the game’s standout features. However, the journey was not without challenges, including complex gameplay design, intricate monster designs and balancing, and the technical difficulties of supporting 3 million simultaneous online users. Ultimately, the game’s visual effects and smooth performance were significantly enhanced, laying a solid foundation for its success.
Key Factors Behind the Success
The success of “Black Myth: Wukong” is the result of several interrelated factors. Firstly, the choice to launch the game on the globally recognized Steam platform provided it with extensive market exposure and a strong user base. Secondly, the game’s deep artistic and technical foundations, combined with the development team’s rich experience in the gaming industry, enabled it to stand out in the market. Additionally, the game’s cultural core, deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, not only captivated domestic players but also attracted global interest.
Although the gameplay itself did not innovate significantly, this conservative strategy helped the game succeed by building on an existing market foundation. Compared to high-budget foreign games like “Red Dead Redemption” and “GTA V,” “Black Myth: Wukong” still lags in development costs and market influence. However, this also indicates that there is considerable room for growth in China’s gaming market.
Market Challenges and Opportunities
The success of “Black Myth: Wukong” also sheds light on the complexities and diversity of the current Chinese gaming market. Developing ARPG games is expensive, especially in the current environment where gaming investments are not overly optimistic. Many investors prefer to invest in low-cost, quick-return small games rather than medium-sized, high-risk projects. The gaming market is moving towards two extremes: on one end, low-cost, high-return small games, and on the other, high-budget, high-risk AAA games. Finding a balance between these two extremes will be a significant challenge for future game developers and investors.
Insights and Future Prospects
Several insights can be drawn from the success of “Black Myth: Wukong.” First, as gaming technology advances and the market matures, there is an increasing demand among players for high-quality games. This presents a unique opportunity for the Chinese gaming industry to expand further into domestic and international markets by creating premium content and differentiated strategies.
Secondly, competition in the gaming industry is no longer limited to the technical level; cultural core and content innovation will become key factors determining the success of a game. By deeply exploring local culture and combining it with a global perspective, the Chinese gaming industry is expected to produce more success stories like “Black Myth: Wukong” in the coming years.
Finally, the business model of gaming is undergoing changes, shifting from a reliance on item-based revenue models to content-based monetization. This not only reflects changes in player spending habits but also provides new revenue opportunities for game developers. By focusing on the quality of the game content itself and the player experience, gaming companies can gain a greater advantage in the fiercely competitive market.
Conclusion
The success of “Black Myth: Wukong” marks another breakthrough in the Chinese gaming industry and points to the direction of future development. By deeply exploring local culture, continuously improving technical capabilities, and exploring new business models, China’s gaming market is poised to occupy a more important position on the global stage.
PLTFRM is an international brand consulting agency that works with companies such as Red, TikTok, Tmall, Baidu, and other well-known Chinese internet e-commerce platforms. We have been working with Chile Cherries for many years, reaching Chinese consumers in-depth through different platforms and realizing that Chile Cherries’ exports in China account for 97% of the total exports in Asia. Contact us, and we will help you find the best China e-commerce platform for you. Search PLTFRM for a free consultation! info@pltfrm.cn
