On August 20, 2024, the Chinese AAA game "Black Myth: Wu Kong" was launched on the global video game distribution platform Steam, causing a sensation and becoming a landmark event for Chinese games venturing abroad. This game brings a stunning Oriental aesthetic world, an exciting Chinese mythological story, and an exhilarating gaming experience to players worldwide, offering them a dual feast of visual and cultural delights. From the success of "Black Wu Kong," we can see the immense potential and opportunities for the Chinese gaming industry in the overseas market.

**I. A New Breakthrough in the Chinese Gaming Industry**

Following its release, "Black Myth: Wu Kong" saw more than 2 million concurrent online players, making it a "phenomenon-level" game. Some reviews suggest it may contend for the Game of the Year award. Players and industry insiders from multiple countries have given it high praise, commending its outstanding aesthetic design, vivid storytelling, and highly immersive experience. AAA games typically refer to high-budget, high-scale, high-quality single-player games and are considered the "crown jewels" of the gaming industry. "Black Myth: Wu Kong" is hailed as the first Chinese AAA game, proving that the production quality of Chinese games has reached world-class standards.

**International Media Praise**

International media have also given high evaluations. Bloomberg reported that "Black Myth: Wu Kong" gives reason to believe that the Chinese gaming industry is at a turning point. The Indian Times stated that the game signifies a place for Chinese video games on the global stage. The Japan Economic News published consecutive articles introducing the release of "Black Myth: Wu Kong," pointing out that the Chinese gaming industry mainly revolves around mobile games, while AAA games focusing on consoles and PCs have long been dominated by American, European, and Japanese games. The breakthrough achieved by "Black Myth: Wu Kong" indicates that the strength of the Chinese gaming industry is increasing.

**II. A New Window to Understanding Chinese Culture**

As global players immerse themselves in the wondrous world of Journey to the West created by "Black Myth: Wu Kong," the mythological stories, architecture, music, and Chinese cultural elements in the game spark their curiosity. Some foreign players searched for "Journey to the West" online and read it through translation software to understand the story better. As more players and streamers actively explore, the Chinese cultural elements in the game will further spread.

- Some want to learn more about Chinese folk music. Foreign netizens on social media said that a segment of northern Shaanxi storytelling in the game was "very interesting" and expressed a desire to hear more similar music.
- Some are enchanted by the Chinese landscapes depicted in the game. Maria Azzolina, chairperson of the Italy-China Friendship Association, said that "Black Myth: Wu Kong" "reproduced" many Chinese tourist spots, which will attract more Western tourists. Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao predicted that the game could spark a new "tourism craze."
- Some are fascinated by the Chinese mythology behind the game. Many Japanese players said that the descriptions of various bizarre creatures in the game are each interesting little stories, which they couldn't help but jot down in their notebooks. Choi Chang-won, director of the Chinese Culture and Arts Research Institute at Kyungwoon University in South Korea, believes that the success of "Black Myth: Wu Kong" lies in its organic integration of profound Chinese culture and modern gaming technology. "By leveraging its rich cultural endowment, I believe China can create more classic IPs that spread Chinese civilization and promote Chinese culture's better reach worldwide."

**III. Opportunities and Challenges for Chinese Games Going Global**

The global success of "Black Myth: Wu Kong" is no coincidence. In recent years, from the continued popularity of online literature works like "Sword Dynasty" and "The Legend of Mi Yue" abroad to the widespread release of films such as "The Wandering Earth 2," "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms," and "Three-Body" in multiple countries, to game products represented by "Black Myth: Wu Kong" and "Genshin Impact" being loved by players worldwide, Chinese online literature, dramas, music, movies, TV shows, and games are captivating more and more foreign audiences. However, Chinese games going global also face challenges such as cultural differences across countries and regions, market competition, and various legal and regulatory factors that could affect the promotion and operation of the games. Additionally, localization is an important issue, requiring adjustments and optimizations based on the languages, cultures, and player habits of different regions.

**IV. Future Outlook**

As the Chinese gaming industry continues to develop and grow, more excellent game works will enter international markets. The success of "Black Myth: Wu Kong" provides new ideas and directions for Chinese games going global—by digging into the essence of traditional Chinese culture and combining it with modern gaming technology to create games with international competitiveness. At the same time, government, enterprises, and all sectors of society should work together to create a conducive environment and conditions for Chinese games going global, advancing the spread of Chinese culture worldwide.

In conclusion, the successful global launch of "Black Myth: Wu Kong" shows the enormous potential of the Chinese gaming industry and the diverse splendor of Chinese culture. We believe that in the future, more outstanding Chinese game works will succeed overseas, contributing significantly to the dissemination and exchange of Chinese culture.