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Black Myth: Wukong Redefines China’s Cultural & Economic Landscape

Published on: August 28, 2024

Picture of Jacob Cooke

Jacob Cooke

Co-founder & CEO

Jake's Take - Black Myth: Wukong Redefines China's Cultural & Economic Landscape

Fascinating to see the massive economic and cultural impact of Black Myth: Wukong, the new Chinese-made hit video game inspired by Journey to the West.

Here are some of my key takeaways from the game’s enormously successful launch last week:

E-Commerce trends: The launch of Black Myth: Wukong drove a 130% increase in video game sales on Alibaba’s Taobao compared to the previous week. Searches for the game itself jumped nearly 14-fold. Notably, sales of PS5 consoles doubled year-on-year in the lead-up to the game’s release, making it the top-selling gaming device on Tmall for several consecutive days.

Black Myth- Wukong Redefines China's Cultural & Economic Landscape - game still-2
Screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong

Tourism boost: The game’s rich depiction of historical and cultural landmarks has directly influenced travel behavior. Tourism bookings to Shanxi Province, which features heavily in the game, saw a significant spike.

For example, ticket sales at the Minor Western Heaven Scenic Spot in Shanxi increased by 300% year-on-year on the day the game launched. Alibaba’s Fliggy reported that Shanxi-related bookings are up 70% overall. This surge highlights the potential of cultural content to drive real-world tourism, turning virtual experiences into physical journeys.

Black Myth- Wukong Redefines China's Cultural & Economic Landscape - Shanxi
Hanging sculptures in Xiaoxitian ("Minor Western Heaven") Temple in Shanxi Province, China.

Cultural export and economic impact: Black Myth: Wukong has positioned itself as a major cultural export, attracting global attention and driving substantial economic activity within China. This includes not only direct sales of the game and related hardware but also partnerships with a variety of brands, such as Luckin Coffee and JD, which are leveraging the game’s popularity to boost their own product offerings.

Consumer shifts: The game’s success reflects broader trends in consumer behavior, with Chinese gamers increasingly investing in high-quality gaming experiences. This is driving demand for advanced gaming hardware and peripherals, with brands like Sony, Razer, and Logitech experiencing notable sales growth. The enthusiasm around Black Myth: Wukong also points to a growing appetite for domestically developed AAA games, which could further shift the landscape of China’s tech and entertainment sectors.

Overall, Black Myth: Wukong’s impact highlights the power of cultural content in shaping consumer behavior and driving market trends, both within China and globally.

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