Image credits - Deltia's Gaming
Black Myth: Wukong, the highly anticipated action RPG developed by Chinese studio Game Science, has achieved a remarkable launch on Steam. The game, which debuted in the early hours of August 20, has quickly surpassed Cyberpunk 2077 to become the most-played single-player game ever on Valve’s platform. At its peak, Black Myth: Wukong boasted an astonishing 1,443,570 concurrent players.
The game’s rapid rise has been meteoric. Within less than 24 hours of its release, Black Myth: Wukong secured the fourth-highest peak concurrent player count in Steam’s history, trailing only behind PUBG, Palworld, and Counter-Strike 2. As of the latest update, Black Myth: Wukong had reached 1,950,058 concurrent players, placing it firmly ahead of games like Dota 2, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3. The game has garnered nearly 30,000 user reviews on Steam, achieving a ‘very positive’ rating. Beyond Steam, Black Myth: Wukong is also available on PlayStation 5, Tencent’s WeGame, and the Epic Games Store, with an Xbox Series X and S version planned for release in the near future.
In the lead-up to its launch, the game faced controversy over content restrictions imposed on overseas streamers. A document reportedly issued by an affiliate of the game’s developer outlined prohibited topics, including political content, “feminist propaganda,” Covid-19, and China’s video game industry policies. This move aimed to curb “negative discourse” and has drawn criticism from some international content creators, who view it as an effort to impose censorship.
Despite these issues, Black Myth: Wukong’s success underscores China’s growing influence in the global gaming industry, highlighting the country’s ambition to become a significant cultural force.