On August 20, 2024, the highly anticipated action RPG “Black Myth: Wukong,” developed by Chinese game company Game Science, was officially released worldwide. Almost instantly, the game shattered multiple records, capturing the attention of gamers globally. However, as the game’s popularity skyrocketed, so too did discussions around the controversies surrounding the company, even dragging several celebrities into a social media storm.
Game Science, the studio behind “Black Myth: Wukong,” has faced significant criticism due to past controversial remarks made by its founders and executives. Notably, co-founder and Art Director Yang Qi once made comments such as “Some things are meant for men only” and “We don’t need female players,” while CEO Feng Ji also expressed disrespectful views towards women. These statements sparked backlash from female gamers even before the game’s release, creating a cloud of controversy that continued post-launch.
On the evening of August 20, Chinese actress Wan Qian shared a screenshot of “Black Myth: Wukong” on her Weibo account with the caption, “Off work, time to play.” However, due to the ongoing controversy surrounding the game’s developers, her post quickly attracted negative comments, accusing her of supporting a game that disrespects women. Wan Qian eventually deleted the post.
Similarly, actor Yin Zheng faced criticism after posting on Weibo about his excitement to play the game, leading him to remove the post. Meanwhile, celebrity Chen He expressed disappointment on Weibo about not being able to play “Black Myth: Wukong” during a flight, which also drew criticism from some netizens who argued that public figures should not support a controversial game.
In contrast, actress Mu Tingting described “Black Myth: Wukong” as a “showcase of Chinese culture” in her Weibo post, sharing screenshots from the game. When questioned, she responded, “In my mind, true feminism means equality between men and women.” She emphasized that the game celebrates Chinese culture and urged people not to let “minor issues” overshadow the bigger picture.
These incidents have sparked widespread discussion, with some netizens jokingly asking, “Have Wan Qian, Mu Tingting, and others been ‘expelled from womanhood’ just for playing a game?” What’s your take on this situation? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
“Black Myth: Wukong” is now available worldwide on PS5, Steam, Epic Games Store, and WeGame. On launch day, the game reached a peak of 2.12 million concurrent players on Steam, surpassing titles like “CS2” and “Fantasy Beast Palu,” making it the second highest in history. Interested players can visit the official website for more details!
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