Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The release of Black Myth: Wukong (BMW) in August 2024 marked a watershed moment for China’s game industry. Inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the game achieved remarkable success, selling 10 million copies and earning $450 million in revenue within its first three days. This unprecedented market performance, coupled with critical acclaim, also drove increased cultural tourism, underscoring the complex ways in which cultural authenticity, narrative design, and advanced technologies can resonate globally. This paper examines BMW’s success through four interwoven theoretical lenses—representation theory, cultural hybridity, procedural rhetoric, and ludonarrative resonance—to elucidate how cultural authenticity and global game conventions converge in shaping player experiences and broader socio-economic impacts. By analyzing BMW’s cultural representation, technological innovation, and market as well as social outcomes, this study contributes to ongoing discussions about how culturally enriched games can reshape global perceptions of local traditions, stimulate economic growth, and encourage meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.
Author: Flint Xiaofeng Fan
Institution: National University of Singapore
Language: English
Topic: Digital Games and Media
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4411972294