The single-player action RPG game Black Myth: Wukong has become the hottest and most controversial Chinese game of the year. Released on August 20, the game sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide and generated 1.5 billion yuan (US$210m) in revenue within 24 hours.
Based on the famous 16th-century classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the game is set after the events of the novel and offers a much darker reinterpretation of the original story. Players assume the role of the Destined One, who follows in the footsteps of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King and the main protagonist of Journey to the West.
However, despite its phenomenal commercial success, many netizens have expressed disapproval of the game’s adaptation. One controversy stems from the game’s portrayal of the Monkey King, a heroic rebel without any romantic involvement in the original story, as a more flawed and merciless figure who falls in love with an evil spirit.
Another point of contention is its depiction of Buddha and the Celestial Court as the main antagonists. While the original novel focuses on an odyssey toward spiritual enlightenment for Sun Wukong, in the game, this journey is depicted as a manipulative scheme orchestrated by celestial powers, including Buddha. Netizens have criticized this reinterpretation for arbitrarily changing the core of the original novel and blaspheming the classic.
Additionally, the history of sexist remarks and behaviors made by the game’s studio, GameScience, and its founders and other employees, as reported in a widely shared IGN report last November, has also generated social media backlash. On August 19, many independent content creators and livestreamers received an email from the game’s marketing team, which included a list of topics to avoid, such as “feminist propaganda,” while livestreaming the game. This directive sparked ire online, with many netizens criticizing the game and its developers for promoting a misogynistic culture.
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