Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong | |
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Developer(s) | Game Science |
Publisher(s) | Game Science |
Producer(s) | Feng Ji Yang Qi |
Artist(s) | Yang Qi |
Engine | Unreal Engine 5[1] |
Platform(s) | |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Action role-playing, soulslike |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Black Myth: Wukong | |||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 黑神话:悟空 | ||||||
Traditional Chinese | 黑神話:悟空 | ||||||
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Black Myth: Wukong (黑神话:悟空) is an upcoming action role-playing game developed and published by Game Science. It is inspired by the 16th-century classical Chinese novel Journey to the West. It is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5 and Windows on August 20, 2024, with an Xbox Series X/S version slated for a later release.
The game is reportedly the first installment in an expected Black Myth series, which will explore different stories in Chinese mythology.[2]
Gameplay
[edit]Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game.[3][4][5] It has sometimes been described as similar to soulslike games in the media during the pre-release, even though Game Science does not consider it as soulslike.[6] It is inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West.[7][8]
The player controls a monkey referred to as the Destined One,[3][4][9] who is based on Sun Wukong from the novel.[3][9] The character's primary weapon is a staff known as the Ruyi Jingu Bang.[5] The player can make use of the character's various abilities and spells, including transformation spells that change the character into a different creature or being.[3][5] One of the transformations is Guangzhi, a wolfman who wields a fire glaive.[3][5] The game has a skill tree to upgrade the character.[3][4]
The game follows a mostly linear progression interspersed with larger areas.[10] The enemies come as the various yaoguai encountered throughout the world.[5][10]
Soundtrack
[edit]The game has been authorized by the China Central Television to use the theme song from its 1986 TV series Journey to the West.[11]
Marketing
[edit]On August 20, 2020, the developer Game Science released a trailer comprising gameplay in the pre-alpha build.[12] It demonstrates the game on Unreal Engine 4.[13] It shows a montage of the protagonist venturing through the world and fighting various foes.[13] Within one day, the video had nearly two million views on YouTube and ten million views on Bilibili.[14] The game had been in development for about two years by the time the video released.[2]
On February 8, 2021, Game Science released a promotional video in celebration of the upcoming year of the ox.[15] The footage does not represent the game's plot, but it gives a look to its visuals.[16]
On August 19, 2021, Game Science released an Unreal Engine 5 gameplay trailer.[17] It revealed that they made the move to develop the game on Unreal Engine 5.[18]
As of June 2024, the game is the most wishlisted on Steam according to SteamDB.[19]
Release
[edit]In a 2020 interview with IGN China, Game Science said that they planned to release the game no less than three years from then.[20] They aim to release the game for PC as well as mainstream consoles.[21] In January 2023, they released a short film for the upcoming year of the rabbit, which revealed that the game would be released in the summer of 2024.[22]
At The Game Awards 2023, Game Science released a trailer announcing the game's release date as August 20, 2024.[8][23] In June 2024, they announced that the Xbox Series X/S version was delayed for optimization on the platform.[24][25]
On release, the game will come in four editions: Standard Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Collector's Edition.[26][27] The latter three editions will come with in-game bonus content and a digital soundtrack, which are the same across these editions.[26][27] The in-game bonus content comprise the Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, Folk Opera Buskins, and Wind Chimes.[27] All pre-orders of any edition come with the in-game content Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd, but this can also be obtained through in-game progression.[27] The two physical editions—the Deluxe Edition and the Collector's Edition—will come with physical collectibles,[26][27] but do not contain a physical disc.[26][28] Instead, both physical editions will come with an activation code for the Digital Deluxe Edition on WeGame for JD.com purchases or Steam for overseas purchases.[28] Game Science stated that they are exploring options to offer physical discs, but that limitations in offline resources have made it difficult to offer physical discs simultaneously with the release.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ Skrebels, Joe (August 19, 2021). "Black Myth: Wukong Switches to Unreal Engine 5 - Supports 4K, 60FPS, Ray Tracing, and More". IGN. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Young, Charles (September 11, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong - The World Exclusive Story Behind the Breakout Action-RPG". IGN.
- ^ a b c d e f Wood, Austin (June 16, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is easily among the best and best-looking action RPGs I've played in years, and after 2 hours hands-on I see why the devs don't call it a Soulslike". GamesRadar+.
- ^ a b c Smith, Mat (June 18, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is pretty, intriguing and as challenging as it looks". Engadget.
- ^ a b c d e Van Aken, Alex (August 20, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Preview - A Classic Tale Retold". Game Informer.
- ^ Thorn, Ed (July 1, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is a pleasantly surprising Soulslike, even if it's given me an enemy for life". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
- ^ Van Allen, Eric (August 20, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong Is an Upcoming Soulslike Adaptation of a Classic Chinese Novel". USgamer. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Holiday, Charming (December 8, 2023). "Black Myth: Wukong Confirms 2024 Release Date". Game Rant. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Peachey, Jack (December 10, 2023). "Black Myth: Wukong's Character and Enemy Design Set It Apart From Other Soulslike Games". Game Rant.
- ^ a b Nightingale, Ed (June 25, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is a brilliant boss rush, but is it a Soulslike?". Eurogamer.
- ^ "《黑神话:悟空》获得86版《西游记》序曲"云宫迅音"正版授权 _ 游民星空". GamerSky (in Chinese). August 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021.
- ^ "Black Myth: Wukong - 13 Minutes Official Gameplay Trailer". YouTube. Game Science. August 20, 2020.
- ^ a b Hollis, Daniel (August 20, 2020). "'Black Myth: Wukong' announced with stunning gameplay footage". NME.
- ^ Ye, Josh (August 21, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong in race to become China's first AAA game". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020.
- ^ "Black Myth: Wukong - Chinese New Year greetings". YouTube. Game Science. February 8, 2021.
- ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (February 9, 2021). "Black Myth: Wukong re-emerges with another stunning gameplay video". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021.
- ^ "Black Myth: Wukong 12 Minutes UE5 Gameplay Test". YouTube. Game Science. August 19, 2021.
- ^ Cryer, Hirun (August 20, 2021). "Black Myth: Wukong trailer reveals switch to Unreal Engine 5". GamesRadar+.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Skrebels, Joe (September 11, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong - 19 New Details We've Learned". IGN. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021.
- ^ Skrebels, Joe (August 21, 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong Developer Responds to Huge Popularity of First Trailer". IGN. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020.
- ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (January 16, 2023). "Black Myth: WuKong Launches Summer 2024". IGN. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023.
- ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (December 7, 2023). "Black Myth: Wukong Gets August Release Date In New Gameplay Trailer". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023.
- ^ Nightingale, Ed (June 7, 2024). "Black Myth Wukong won't be on Xbox at launch". Eurogamer.
- ^ Schomer, Matthew (June 8, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Dev Has Bad News for Xbox Gamers". Game Rant.
- ^ a b c d Karoglou, Matt (June 12, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong - All Editions and Pre-Order Bonuses Explained". Game Rant.
- ^ a b c d e Coulson, Josh (June 10, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Pre-Orders Include A $400 Collector's Edition". TheGamer.
- ^ a b c Flores, Johnny Jr (June 8, 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Won't Have A Disc When It Launches Physically In August". TheGamer.
External links
[edit]- Upcoming video games scheduled for 2024
- Action role-playing video games
- Dark fantasy video games
- Fantasy video games
- Unreal Engine 5 games
- Soulslike video games
- Video games based on Chinese mythology
- Video games based on Journey to the West
- Video games about insects
- Video games developed in China
- Video games set in China
- Video games set in heaven
- Windows games