The Soulslike genre has seen its share of standout titles over the years, but none quite captured the attention of fans with its reveal likeBlack Myth: Wukong. The upcoming game from developer Game Science was first revealed in 2020 with a trailer of pre-alpha footage that garnered nearly 2 million views on YouTube with its beautiful graphics and intense gameplay. WhileBlack Myth: Wukonghas all the elements in place to be the next big entry in the Soulslike genre, it needs to avoid the missteps of the recentWo Long: Fallen Dynastyif it’s going to succeed.
Black Myth: WukongandWo Long: Fallen Dynastyshare the similarities of being Soulslikes based on Chinese legends, with the former deriving heavy inspiration from the 16th century Chinese novelJourney to the West. Despite these similarities, the games could end up in drastically different positions depending on how wellBlack Myth: Wukongis able to deliver on its already impressive visuals and gameplay. Otherwise, the game runs the risk of ending up with the same lukewarm receptionWo Long: Fallen Dynastyreceived and leaving Soulslike fans without a definitive Chinese mythology-inspired game.
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Black Myth: Wukong Needs a Different Approach From Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
AlthoughTeam Ninja’s previous Soulslikes –Nioh, its sequelNioh 2,andStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin– stood out as solid entries in the genre,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyfailed to capture the same audience as those titles. The game faced a poor marketing campaign coupled with disappointing betas that culminated in a stagnant launch. Players ended up quite divided on the game, as some found it to be a decent Soulslike while others saw it as a shell of what it could have been.
Even with the initial hype behindBlack Myth: Wukongafter its impressive reveal trailer, the drip feed of information in the time since has really put the game on the back burner. Although it was originally planned for a 2023 release, Game Science has announcedBlack Myth: Wukong’s new release windowis set for Summer 2024. While the studio may have seen the receptionWo Long: Fallen Dynastyreceived and wanted more time to craft a better, alternative experience, a delay like this could end up taking some of the wind out of the game’s sails in the long run.
IfBlack Myth: Wukongis going to succeed whereWo Long: Fallen Dynastyfailed, it’s going to need a way to set itself a part from Team Ninja’s title. The first step is to create a game that gives both newcomers and Souslike veterans a reason to check it out among a rather crowded genre. The graphical appeal that comes from usingUnreal Engine 5can help, but the game shouldn’t rely on its visual beauty while neglecting its gameplay if it’s going to iterate upon the genre in waysWo Long: Fallen Dynastydidn’t.
The other pillar necessary for success is a solid marketing campaign, one which is more consistent than that of Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo’s production. As theSoulslikemarket becomes more mainstream, it becomes more saturated which requires publishers to really sell players on their games. As such,Black Myth: Wukongneeds to come out swinging once a release date is nailed down to ensure the game’s marketing is able to reach its intended audience outside of hardcore Soulslike fans. The game has already shown impressive amounts of hype with each new trailer drop, but whether it can translate that same hype into sales come release has yet to be seen.
Black Myth: Wukongreleases in Summer 2024 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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