For video gaming, particularly on the triple-A side of things, 2024 has started rather well. Naturally, there have been blatant missteps, like with whatever they were thinking for the story of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but for the most part, it’s been about the winners like Tekken 8. Still on the way, we’ve got Rise of the Rōnin, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Stella Blade, and annual releases like Call of Duty, which we cover extensively at SimCookie.com.
One which we now have a firm release date for and, importantly, approval from its home nation is Black Myth: Wukong. Craved by gamers who love games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring since its stellar unveiling some four years ago, the triple-A game made in China will finally arrive on August 20, 2024. What makes the game so important is that it’s a fully-fledged premium game being made in China for a global release, as well as the fact that it’ll be uniquely Chinese in its story and gameplay, being based on a 16th-century novel.
Offering Some Chinese Culture For The Big Launch
Expectations are very high for Black Myth: Wukong because the footage shown so far doesn’t give any reason not to be excited. One of the most enticing factors is its clear drawing from Journey to the West. Penned during the Ming dynasty in 16th Century China, it tells the tale of a legendary pilgrimage, infusing elements of Chinese mythology, folklore from across the country, and tales from Buddhism and Taoism, especially.
Seemingly perfect for gaming, its leading characters are the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie the Pig, and the White Dragon Horse. Entertainment studios from around the world love to draw from Journey to the West greatly because of its iconic anthropomorphized characters. You can see it in the design of top slots at the sites offering the top welcome promos at Bonuses.com.
Some offer open free spins bonuses that can be used on any slots available. Among these, you’d see Monkey Warrior, Monkey: Battle for the Scrolls, and Legend of the Golden Monkey – all of which draw from Journey to the West. Elsewhere, it was adapted in New Zealand’s The New Legends of Monkey live-action series, Japan’s anime Doraemon, and the Andy Serkis-voiced Enslaved: Odyssey to the West video game.
Now, a Chinese creative team at Game Science will be able to adapt the story to a global audience. While its fantastical elements will be amped up significantly, Black Myth: Wukong should prove to be the most authentic retelling of Journey to the West. On top of including much of its story beats and characters, gamers can also expect some much-loved gameplay mechanics.
Approved By China, Shipping In August
Black Myth: Wukong has essentially been a hit since its first official gameplay trailer suddenly hit the internet. Put out by outlet IGN, the “Official 13 Minutes Gameplay Trailer” rapidly surged to seven-figure views when it popped up on August 20, 2020, and now sits at over 10.4 million views. Still, its release was always subject to the approval of Chinese sensors. On February 28, 2024, SCMP.com reported that Black Myth: Wukong had officially been approved.
The setting, super graphics, and creative-looking enemies showcased so far have already enticed millions of players. Particularly for more Western gamers, though, it’s the distinctly Dark Souls-like gameplay that’ll be the big selling point. Taking on huge enemies in enclosed environments with evasion and fast-paced attacks as the core battle mechanics often proves to be major drivers of interest in FromSoftware creations. On top of this, there’ll be a vast open world with plenty to explore and test your skills against around the central narrative.
FromSoftware commands a colossal audience, however, because of its high difficulty and tough learning curve. For Black Myth: Wukong, hopefully, there’ll be difficulty options to maximize its accessibility for this integral triple-A release from China. It could pave the way for more novel creations from the country, which can only bolster the gaming scene. Also of note is that Black Myth: Wukong will be a single-player game to be launched as a one-time purchase, separating it from fellow Chinese hit game Genshin Impact.
Black Myth: Wukong is all set and ready for its August launch. Hopefully, the real experience proves to be as engaging as the footage shown so far.
