After the global success of the triple-A game "Black Myth: Wukong," China's gaming industry is scaling up the production of blockbusters. The game, developed by the little-known studio Game Science, achieved 10 million sales and generated revenues of 1.1 billion US dollars in the first three days after its release in August. It is estimated that 70 percent of the 25 million copies sold are from China.

Black Myth: Wukong" stands out with authentic Chinese culture and historical elements, combined with modern graphics and exciting gameplay. According to Daniel Ahmad, Research Director at Niko Partners, the title marks the entry of Chinese developers into the triple-A premium market.

The industry hopes that success will spur investment in a gaming industry weakened by regulatory measures. Between June 2021 and the end of 2022, the government suspended the approval of new games, leading to numerous studio closures. Since then, around 1,300 new games have been approved, a sign of Beijing's relaxed stance.

State media embrace the game's cultural influence, a marked shift compared to the 2021 allegations of the industry spreading "spiritual opium." The China Daily praised the success as a break from Western dominance in the high-end gaming market.

Market leader Tencent recorded domestic revenue growth of six percent in 2024, mainly thanks to the smartphone game "Dungeon & Fighter Mobile." Despite the recovery, number two, NetEase, struggled with a four percent revenue decline in the third quarter, which analysts attributed to the waning popularity of "Eggy Party.

Ahmad emphasized that Chinese studios have increased their competitiveness through investments in foreign expertise and standardized production processes. "Black Myth: Wukong" was developed with a budget of 42 million US dollars, while comparable productions in the USA would have cost at least twice as much. Lower development costs and a large talent pool give Chinese developers an advantage in the global market.

The success of "Black Myth" is likely to trigger further ambitious projects like "Phantom Blade Zero" and "Wuchang: Fallen Feathers," which are expected later this year.