In a remarkable debut, Black Myth: Wukong, the highly anticipated action RPG from Game Science, has swiftly ascended to the top of the gaming charts, setting new records on Steam (via Eurogamer).
The game, deeply rooted in Chinese mythology, has taken the gaming world by storm, surpassing the concurrent player records of some of the biggest titles in recent history, including Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, and Cyberpunk 2077.
Within just hours of its release, Black Myth: Wukong became the most played single-player game of all time on Steam, a feat that underscores its immense popularity and the growing global interest in Chinese mythology-inspired content.
As of now, the game ranks as the fourth most played title on Valve’s platform overall, trailing only behind multiplayer giants like Counter-Strike 2, Palworld, and PUBG: Battlegrounds in terms of peak concurrent players. It has already recorded a peak of 2,125,077 concurrent players, a figure that dwarfs the all-time highs of other blockbuster games.
For context, Cyberpunk 2077, a game that garnered massive attention upon its release, reached a peak of 1,054,388 concurrent players, while Elden Ring, another critically acclaimed title, saw a peak of 953,426 players. This places Black Myth: Wukong as the second most played game of all time on Steam, just behind Counter-Strike 2 and Palworld, which it recently overtook.
Carless, founder of GameDiscoverCo, highlighted that an estimated 88 percent of the game’s players on Steam are from China
However, Black Myth: Wukong’s journey to success has not been without its share of controversies. Before the game even launched, Game Science’s CEO, Féng Jì, faced criticism for using sexualized and misogynistic language in online posts.
Adding to the controversy, a leaked document recently surfaced online, revealing that influencers were requested not to include “politics,” “feminist propaganda,” or references to Covid-19 in their coverage of Black Myth: Wukong.
Despite these issues, the game’s incredible performance on Steam is undeniable. As it continues to attract players worldwide, it will be interesting to see how it maintains its momentum and navigates the challenges posed by its controversies.
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