How China's Video Game Market is Ready to Take Over

By That's, January 27, 2025

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This summer has been huge for Chinese gaming companies. The single-player market was taken by storm with the release of Black Myth: Wukong from Game Science, a game that broke PC gaming records by achieving the highest concurrent player count for a single-player game on Steam, the largest digital distribution service for PC games. On the third day of its release, it reached a peak of 2,415,714 concurrent players, surpassing gaming giants Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077, both created by long-time veterans FromSoftware and CD Projekt Red, respectively. The only game to surpass Black Myth: Wukong was the massive multiplayer title PUBG: Battlegrounds.

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One month later, Black Myth: Wukong still averages around half a million players on Steam daily, a testament to its length and difficulty. The game’s marketing team collaborated with Luckin Coffee to boost brand awareness, and several offices even gave employees the day off if they had pre-purchased the game. Rumors suggest the game will release extra purchasable content in early January 2025, around the time of the Chinese New Year.

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The game has been widely acclaimed by fans, with over 95% of the audience giving it positive reviews on Steam. However, critics have pointed out issues with repetitive combat and abrupt transitions between chapters, where the protagonist can shift from a burning mountain temple to a desert-like area with little explanation. Despite these critiques, the game sold 18 million copies in two weeks, with sales expected to reach 30 million over its lifetime. With six years of development and a budget of around USD 70 million, Black Myth: Wukong is considered a massive success.

Black Myth: Wukong is a AAA game, defined as a high-budget, high-profile title typically published by large companies. While Game Science may not have been a AAA studio before the release of Wukong, it certainly is now. The release of the game has also sent gaming console sales through the roof, specifically Sony’s PlayStation 5 (PS5). Local vendors and gamers report a surge in demand for the PS5, as it offers an affordable alternative for those unable to purchase expensive Nvidia 40-series graphics cards for their PCs. Many retailers are selling out of PS5s, with the console reportedly selling twice as quickly as its predecessor, the PS4.

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In Taiwan, gaming studio Red Candle Games has found success with their indie 2D Metroidvania game Nine Sols. The company took a sharp turn in the genre, moving from horror-based games to this new project. They explain that their smaller team size gives them 'the flexibility and creative freedom to experiment with different topics and gameplay styles.' Known for narrative-driven experiences, Red Candle Games carried this strength from their previous titles, Detention and Devotion, into Nine Sols, where the game’s narrative is deeply intertwined with worldbuilding.

The game is set in a Taopunk universe, allowing the team to mix various Eastern philosophies and myths, resulting in greater character and boss fight variety compared to their previous games. Nine Sols has been localized into over 11 languages, including Traditional and Simplified Chinese, allowing more players from around the world to enjoy what the team calls their 'inclusive, enjoyable, and meaningful' game.

While Red Candle Games does not know the exact percentage of its female audience, they made it a priority to ensure half of their employees are female. They believe this team composition ensures that different perspectives are considered, creating experiences that resonate with a wide audience. Their gameplay research focused on hardcore gamers who enjoy a challenge, leading them to develop a Souls-like experience, known for its difficult boss fights—an element shared with Black Myth: Wukong.

Despite the differences in the games these companies create, both share similar elements. Eastern philosophy and mythology run throughout both titles, as well as challenging gameplay that appeals to hardcore gamers. These features will likely keep players glued to their screens, even when they cry out in frustration after being defeated just before victory. With highly anticipated titles like Phantom Blade Zero on the horizon, the future of Chinese gaming has been forever changed by this summer.


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