Developed by a Chinese independent studio, this game has become one of the most popular of all time on Steam

© Game Science

Black Myth: Wukong, the action-adventure game inspired by Chinese mythology, has just shattered records on Steam. Created by independent studio Game Science, it has risen to the top of the platform's most played games, even surpassing industry titans.

A runaway success upon its release

On August 20, Black Myth: Wukong made a spectacular debut on Steam. Within hours, the game had surpassed 2.2 million concurrent players. At the time of writing, the game had a peak of 2,415,000 players. To put that number into perspective, it surpasses the all-time highs of flagship games like Dota 2 (1.2 million) and Counter-Strike 2 (1.8 million). The title has overwhelmingly positive overall ratings, with 96% recommending across over 280,000 ratings.

What makes this feat even more remarkable is the game’s status. Unlike its free-to-play competitors, it retails for a whopping $60. Despite this, it has established itself as the most popular title on Steam, also dominating the bestsellers chart.

Black Myth: Wukong’s success isn’t just about the numbers. It even managed to surpass Palworld's record (2.1 million simultaneous players), a recent phenomenon that had caused a sensation on the platform. This performance was also praised by Pocketpair.

A cultural phenomenon that transcends borders

© Game Science

The craze for Black Myth: Wukong is largely explained by its deep cultural roots. The game is inspired by the legend of Sun Wukong, a mythological tale passed down from generation to generation in Chinese families. This connection with Chinese cultural heritage has generated massive interest, particularly in China, where a significant portion of the gamers come from.

The success of the title represents a proud moment for the Chinese video game industry, proving its ability to create world-class titles capable of competing with the biggest international productions.

However, the game’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Game Science studio found itself at the center of controversy over its guidelines for content creators, which asked them to avoid topics like “feminist propaganda” and COVID.

Despite these controversies, the game has managed to capture a large audience thanks to its gameplay and polished aesthetics.

The success of Black Myth: Wukong marks a turning point in the video game industry. It proves that an independent studio, with a strong artistic vision and deep cultural roots, can create a global phenomenon. Currently available on PC and PS5, Black Myth: Wukong is also expected to release on Xbox Series X|S at a later date.

• Black Myth: Wukong, developed by Chinese studio Game Science, has reached over 2.4 million concurrent players on Steam, surpassing popular games like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2.
• The game draws on Chinese mythology, particularly the legend of Sun Wukong, which partly explains its immense popularity in China and internationally.
• Despite some controversy, this success marks a turning point for the Chinese video game industry and paves the way for greater cultural diversity in gaming.

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