Black Myth: Wukong has made an explosive debut on Steam. It quickly secured its place as the second most-played game in the platform’s history, amassing over 2.1 million concurrent players within less than 24 hours since its release. This surge in popularity pushed it past games like Palworld and Counter-Strike 2, positioning it just behind the all-time leader, PUBG, which maintains a peak concurrent player count of 3.3 million.
The success of Black Myth: Wukong not only stands out due to its impressive numbers but also due to its impact on the gaming community. Until now, the top three spots for concurrent players on Steam were held by PUBG, Palworld, and Counter-Strike 2, with peak player counts of 3.3 million, 2.1 million, and 1.8 million respectively. Black Myth: Wukong is the only single-player game to achieve this player count, which is more than twice that of Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring.
The game’s exceptional popularity can be attributed to several factors, notably its appeal to the vast Chinese market, which is projected to reach 730 million gamers within the next three years. Additionally, the game’s cultural resonance and the anticipation surrounding its release undoubtedly contributed to its record-breaking launch.
However, the game’s success extends beyond its appeal to Chinese audiences. Black Myth: Wukong has garnered widespread acclaim for its gameplay, graphics, and narrative, drawing comparisons to other monumental titles such as Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. On Steam, the game boasts a 94 percent “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating, with over 80,000 reviews further affirming its quality.
The launch of Black Myth: Wukong has not been without controversy, as Game Science faced criticism for reportedly issuing guidelines to influencers and content creators, requesting that their coverage avoid references to COVID-19, politics, or “feminist propaganda.” This controversy has sparked discussions within the gaming community about the implications of such requests. Game Science has yet to publicly address these concerns.
Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology, based on “Journey to the West,” one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Players assume the role of the Destined One and embark on a journey to uncover the obscured truth beneath the glorious legend from the past.