History of Black Myth: Wukong in Timeline
"Black Myth: Wukong", an action RPG by Game Science, draws inspiration from "Journey to the West." Launching globally on August 20, 2024, for PS5 and Windows, with a later Xbox Series X/S release, the game has garnered positive critical reception.
1986: Theme Song Authorization
China Central Television granted permission for the use of the theme song from the 1986 television series Journey to the West in Black Myth: Wukong.
2018: Development Begins
In 2018, several members of Game Science, a company based in Shenzhen, relocated to Hangzhou to begin development on Black Myth: Wukong.
August 20, 2020: Gameplay Reveal
On August 20, 2020, a pre-alpha gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Wukong was released, generating significant interest and showcasing the game's development using Unreal Engine 4. The trailer quickly went viral, garnering millions of views on platforms like YouTube and Bilibili.
August 20, 2021: Unreal Engine 5 Transition
A new trailer released on August 20, 2021, revealed that Black Myth: Wukong's development had shifted to Unreal Engine 5 to better realize the game's vision for realistic environments inspired by Chinese landscapes.
January 2023: Summer 2024 Release Window Announced
A promotional short film released in January 2023 to celebrate the year of the rabbit confirmed that Black Myth: Wukong would launch in the summer of 2024.
December 2023: Release Date Announced
At The Game Awards in December 2023, a new trailer for Black Myth: Wukong revealed its release date as August 20, 2024.
2023: Gamescom Awards
Black Myth: Wukong received the award for "Best Visuals" at Gamescom 2023, further raising anticipation for the game's release.
May 2024: Steam Wishlist Milestone
By May 2024, Black Myth: Wukong secured the top spot as the most-wishlisted game on Steam.
June 7, 2024: Pre-orders Begin
Pre-orders for Black Myth: Wukong went live on June 7, 2024, with all editions including the "Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd" in-game content.
June 2024: Xbox Series X/S Version Delayed
In June 2024, Game Science announced a delay for the Xbox Series X/S version of Black Myth: Wukong, citing the need for further optimization on the platform.
August 20, 2024: Black Myth: Wukong Released
On August 20, 2024, Black Myth: Wukong was released worldwide for PlayStation 5 and Windows. The Xbox Series X/S version was scheduled for a later date. The game received generally positive reviews upon release.