By Sagar V. Mankar 
Chinese action RPG Black Myth: Wukong has achieved impressive international success, with 30% of its total sales—approximately 7.5 million copies—coming from markets outside China. This global performance has exceeded expectations for a game deeply rooted in Chinese mythology and culture.
Game Science co-founder Yang Qi revealed these surprising figures during a presentation at the West Lake Art Forum. According to Yang, the development team was particularly impressed by how well the game resonated with international audiences despite potential cultural barriers.
“While players from abroad might not understand Wukong’s design of spaces, styles, stories, and performance, they can still appreciate the core content as long as the logic behind it is consistent and resonates with common experiences,” Yang explained (Thanks 80.lv).
Daniel Ahmad, Director of Research and Insights at Niko Partners, added context to these numbers, reporting that PlayStation 5 versions account for “a little over 20%” of total sales. This translates to approximately 5 million copies on Sony’s console alone, representing a significant milestone for a Chinese-developed title on international console platforms.
The global reception challenges critics who suggested the game’s impressive 25 million total sales were primarily due to China’s large population. Even when considering only international sales, Black Myth: Wukong would still be highly profitable. With an estimated production budget of $70 million (including development and marketing), the revenue from international markets alone—estimated around $225 million—would have covered costs three times over.
The game has also gained recognition through numerous international awards, including Game of the Year at the Steam Awards 2024 and the Golden Joystick Awards 2024. At The Game Awards 2024, it won Best Action Game and the Players’ Voice Award.
Beyond direct sales, the international success of Black Myth: Wukong has created positive ripple effects for the Chinese game development industry. Reports suggest its performance has helped secure additional funding for other Chinese studios, potentially including S-Game, the developer of the upcoming Phantom Blade Zero.
Looking ahead, Game Science plans to release DLC expansion content in 2025. An Xbox version is also expected this year, though neither has a confirmed release date yet.