Link: Industry insiders hope the success of Black Myth: Wukong, which earned ~$1.1B from nearly 25M copies, will rekindle Chinese gaming investments after a crackdown (Financial Times)

China's video game industry is set to release significant blockbusters in 2025, building on the global success of the "triple-A" title Black Myth: Wukong. Game Science, an obscure Chinese developer, made history with this game by selling 10 million copies in just three days, inspired by a classical Chinese novel.

The game has grossed $1.1 billion with nearly 25 million copies sold, predominantly in China. According to fans, its appeal lies not just in state-of-the-art graphics and engaging gameplay but also in its authentic reflection of Chinese culture and history.

Black Myth: Wukong is notable for being China's first major triple-A game, developed with a large budget and extensive development time for PCs and consoles, not just smartphones. Niko Partners' Daniel Ahmad notes that this success has positioned Chinese developers as significant players in the triple-A premium games market.

The game's success has sparked hopes for revitalized investment in China's gaming industry, which is recovering from a stringent regulatory crackdown begun in 2021. After an 18-month hiatus in game approvals, the industry is bouncing back, supported by resumed licensing.

State media have praised Black Myth: Wukong for enhancing China's global image, contrasting sharply with their 2021 criticism of the industry as promoting "spiritual opium." The game is part of a broader shift towards bigger budgets and internationally competitive titles.

Despite a focus on ambitious triple-A projects, China's largest gaming company, Tencent, continues to see significant revenue from mobile games, especially after the recent success of Dungeon & Fighter Mobile. This indicates a strategic balancing between nurturing high-end domestic productions and capitalizing on proven mobile gaming formats. #

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