Black Myth: Wukong — Everything We Know

Journey to the West is regarded as one of the most iconic pieces of literature in Chinese history. Just as well Game Science has made that all-important decision to finally transform it into a full-fledged video game, eh? It seems it was bound to happen sooner or later, to be fair—and what better way to bring it than to envelope it in an all-new Souls-like vessel for Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC? That's Black Myth: Wukong, in a nutshell, and we're all for its mythological goodness.

Of course, we're still a ways off from seeing it comes to the table yet, but if you are curious to learn more about it, then be sure to read on, as we'll be listing all the core details. Need we say more? Here's everything you need to know about Black Myth: Wukong.

What Is Black Myth: Wukong?

Black Myth: Wukong is an upcoming third-person Souls-like action-adventure game by Game Science, a relatively new studio that was created under the banner of former Tencent employees. The game will base its premise on Journey to the West, a classic Chinese novel that depicts a Tang dynasty Buddhist's legendary pilgrimage across the “Western Regions” in search of sacred texts.

According to Game Science, the adaptation of the famous novel will feature a Souls-like style of gameplay, and will therefore adopt a series of epic boss fights, treacherous locales, and magic-infused abilities that will give players the advantages needed to progress further into its unforgettable journey across the Asian borders.

Story

In Black Myth: Wukong, you take on the role of Sun Wukong, otherwise known as the Monkey King. In this epic tale, you will traverse the Chinese regions in search of knowledge that binds to Taoism, an ancient religion that reflects on spiritual immortality. As the Monkey King, you will not only learn how to master language and combat, but also the 72 methods of heavenly transformation, a niche series of abilities that allows you to shapeshift into various creatures.

Black Myth: Wukong follows the same tale as Journey to the West, one of “four masterpieces of Chinese literature.” The book, which has been one of the hallmarks of Chinese history for generations, will serve as the primary source of inspiration for Game Science's characters, story, and world.

Gameplay

Yes, it is a Souls-like game. What does this mean, though, and what can we expect to see come of the gameplay? Well, if you have played through any of FromSoftware's previous games, then you'll no doubt have a clear understanding of how a typical Soulslike operates. Not entirely sure? It's simple, really; there are brutal boss fights, unforgiving NPCs, and relentlessly difficult obstacles to overcome. Basically, it's your bog-standard Dark Souls, wrapped in a classic Chinese twist. If that's the sort of gig you'd usually go for, then you'll definitely find something to cherish in Game Science's upcoming action-adventure.

Early previews of Black Myth did go on to reveal various exploration sections, much of which came bundled in with various epic boss battles and magic-imbued parrying and combos. Judging from these short snippets, you will mostly wield the black iron staff in combat, and will use a selection of magics to transform yourself into a number of creatures. Besides turning into a golden cicada to scout out other areas, though, there really is no telling the extent of Wukong's abilities.

Development

Black Myth: Wukong is being developed by Game Science, a studio that was discovered back in 2014 by a select number of former Tencent employees. According to the site, the team that is threading together Black Myth is the same exact team that worked on Asura West, another of Tencent's games that is based entirely on Journey to the West. Other works by this studio include 100 Heroes and Art of War: Red Tides, along with a multitude of free-to-play MMOs on Android and iOS.

Trailer

So, is there a trailer to compliment this fine work of art? In short, yes, there is—and it looks remarkable given its age. And not just that, but it also has a rather generous thirteen minute gameplay trailer, too, which also outlines a lot of the game's combat mechanics, setting, and general flow of the system. Curious to see more? You can catch a glimpse of what's to come in the embed above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Black Myth: Wukong will be coming to PC via Steam in “Summer 2024,” which technically slots it somewhere between June and September. Will it be coming to consoles sometime after its initial PC launch? Yes! That's according to Game Science, anyway, who stated that the game would be launching on “mainstream consoles” alongside its PC version. So, with that, you can definitely expect to see Black Myth set up shop on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. It's still anybody's guess as to whether or not it will come to Xbox One and PlayStation 4, though.

Curious to learn more about its launch editions? Bad news there, as the devs have kept pretty quiet in that department, and probably will do until at least the first quarter of 2024. Still, you can check in with the official updates and keep an eye out for its special and collector's edition announcements by following the Steam page when it finally drops.

For more information on the Black Myth: Wukong launch, be sure to check in with the official social handle here. We'll be sure to let you know if anything new pops up right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Black Myth: Wukong when it eventually launches next year? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.