"The hardships of the journey are many, but the rewards of reaching the Western Paradise will be great."
This sentiment, drawn from the quest of Sun Wukong and his companions in the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West," reflects the trajectory of China's gaming industry.
Much like the mythical pilgrimage of these legendary figures, the industry has embarked on its own odyssey — a quest to conquer not just the Eastern realms of mobile gaming, but to venture forth into the challenging territories of global AAA game development.
This summer sees a trio of highly anticipated Chinese games launch: "Black Myth: Wukong," "Delta Force: Hawk Ops," and "Once Human".
For years, China's gaming landscape was dominated by mobile titles, where commercial success from combining addictive play and lucrative monetization models often overshadowed studios’ artistic recognition.
The summer of 2024 marks a turning point in this journey. Within mere hours of its release "Black Myth: Wukong" boasted over 1.5 million concurrent players on Steam before reaching an astounding 2.1 million concurrent players just 11 hours post-launch. This phenomenal debut not only eclipsed the records of gaming juggernauts like "Elden Ring" and "Cyberpunk 2077" but also secured "Black Myth: Wukong" the second-highest concurrent player count in Steam's history, trailing only behind "PUBG: Players Unknown Battlegrounds."
While many hot takes end there, local gamers are equally excited about what comes next from China’s gaming studios. "Delta Force: Hawk Ops," developed by Team Jade, has already garnered over 1 million wishlists on Steam, despite not having a set release date.
Released in early July, "Once Human," is a free-to-play post-apocalyptic survival game developed by Starry Studio, a NetEase subsidiary. The game quickly amassed over 230,000 concurrent players on Steam, with demand so high that players faced queues just to enter the game.
By mid-August , it had claimed the top spot in Steam's "Top Sellers" ranking. While critical reception has been mixed, with Metacritic reporting "mixed or average" reviews, IGN awarded the game a "great" rating of 8/10, highlighting its appeal to a broad audience.
The impact of these games extends beyond numbers. Steeped in various themes from Chinese mythology to modern warfare and post-apocalyptic survival, they represent a diverse showcase of China's game development capabilities. With its reported budget exceeding $50 million "Black Myth: Wukong" underscores China's commitment to competing at the highest levels of global game development.
The game's default Chinese language setting and its depiction of important cultural landmarks throughout China have ignited a sense of national pride, with state media heralding its success as "not only a victory for the gaming industry but also an important milestone in the overseas expansion of Chinese culture."
Beyond the gaming sphere, collaborations with Luckin Coffee saw promotional posters flying off the proverbial shelves. The company's CEO quipped about underestimating the consumption power of gamers, a lighthearted nod to the game's broad appeal and cultural significance.
However, the road to creating these titles has not been without its obstacles. Chinese developers have faced skepticism, technical hurdles, and the challenge of appealing to diverse global tastes. The industry has also navigated complex regulatory waters, with concerns about gaming addiction leading to restrictions on young players. Moreover, the global release of these games has highlighted the delicate balance Chinese developers must strike between creative expression and adherence to domestic content guidelines.
As "Black Myth: Wukong," "Delta Force: Hawk Ops," and "Once Human" make their marks on the global stage, we see a shift. China's gaming industry, once perceived as a follower, now positions itself as an innovator and leader across multiple genres. The journey from mobile dominance to AAA and AA excellence has been long, but like Sun Wukong's pilgrimage, it has transformed the travelers.
As the gaming world turns its gaze eastward, captivated by tales of monkey kings, modern warfare, and post-apocalyptic survival, one thing becomes clear: the journey may be nearing its end, but the adventure is just beginning.
