Creators of hit video game Black Myth: Wukong announce sequel featuring legendary ghost slayer Zhong Kui
Chinese studio Game Science introduced Black Myth: Zhong Kui at the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany on Tuesday (Aug 19).
A near-two-minute teaser trailer featured the titular character Zhong Kui, a deity in Chinese mythology traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings. He is often portrayed as a towering figure with a big black beard, bulging eyes and a wrathful expression.
Beyond confirming that the game is in early development and will similarly be steeped in Chinese mythology like Black Myth: Wukong, Tencent-backed Game Science has yet to release any gameplay footage or even a rough release date.
The studio said on its website that it is the company's 'tradition' to report its progress to players every Aug 20, and that 'this year is no exception'. While the announcement took place on the evening of Aug 19 in Cologne, it was already Aug 20 in China, aligning with the studio's chosen date.
Game Science has traditionally released new content or teasers for the Black Myth series on Aug 20 each year. In 2020, it unveiled a 13-minute gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Wukong, followed by additional gameplay footage and an in-game cutscene in subsequent years. The game was officially released on Aug 20, 2024.
However, the game is 'little more than an empty folder at this stage', said Game Science, adding that it was 'not even done with the outline yet'.
'There's hardly any game footage we could share. To keep all hands focused on development, we decided to deliver a CG (computer graphics) short to let everyone know that a new project has kicked off,' the studio wrote in an FAQ section on its website.
Black Myth: Zhong Kui will be released on PC and all 'mainstream' console platforms, Game Science said.
SPIRITS STIRRED, FANS THRILLED
Game Science uploaded the teaser to its official social media platforms, including Chinese microblogging site Weibo, where it quickly drew an enthusiastic response.
The hashtag 'Black Myth' surged to the top of Weibo's hot search list, racking up nearly 18 million concurrent views as fans expressed excitement over the upcoming sequel.
A popular Chinese gaming blogger, Zhang Jia, who has more than 1 million followers on Weibo, shared clips of non-Chinese gamers reacting to the announcement of Black Myth: Zhong Kui.
"The hype … is real, the foreigners are going crazy when they showed Black Myth: Zhong Kui on the big screen,' he wrote.
But Zhang believes Zhong Kui's mythology may be "more difficult" for non-Chinese players to digest compared to Journey to the West, the classic Chinese epic that inspired Black Myth: Wukong and is more widely known internationally.
Black Myth: Wukong follows the Journey to the West character known as the Monkey King or Sun Wukong, as he embarks on a quest to reclaim six magical relics.
Game Science has said it's still 'exploring and experimenting' with the 'concrete differences' between Wukong and Zhong Kui.
'So take it easy, let us impress ourselves first before we serve it to you,' it wrote on its website.
Even as anticipation builds, it remains to be seen whether Black Myth: Zhong Kui can replicate the success reaped by its predecessor.
Black Myth: Wukong saw more than 4 million people add the title to their wishlists on Steam before its launch, making it the most 'wishlisted' game on the digital platform in early 2024.
Physical editions were also sold out within seconds on Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com.
The game reached more than 2.2 million peak concurrent users (PCCU) on Steam within its first 24 hours, making it the most popular single-player game by that metric in the platform's history, according to video game research firm Niko Partners.
It ranks second among all types of games by PCCU, coming in just behind battle royale game PUBG which peaked at 3.2 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
6 hours ago
- CNA
Drone shows surging in popularity globally
Drone shows are surging in popularity worldwide, entertaining large crowds through coordinated displays. In China, where the struggle continues to reignite sustained growth, it is a welcome growth industry.
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
HGC Appoints Argon Ho as Chief Commercial Officer of Group ICT Business
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 August 2025 - HGC Global Communications ("HGC" or the "Group"), a fully-fledged ICT service provider and network operator with extensive global coverage, today announced the appointment of Argon Ho as Chief Commercial Officer – Group ICT Business, with immediate effect. In this role, Argon will oversee the Group's ICT organisation and enhance ICT spread out — driving the Group horizontal growth across cybersecurity, digital solutions and cloud through AI, while pursuing project-based vertical penetration within existing accounts and into new markets, and concurrently expanding HGC's international footprint. With over 30 years in ICT, Argon is a widely recognised leader in Greater China's technology market, especially in enterprise software and applications. His extensive expertise spans strategic planning, cyber security, and data governance. Prior to joining HGC, he honed through tenures as Managing Director of Check Point Software Technologies for the Greater China Region and General Manager at Cisco Hong Kong and Macau. Beyond his corporate achievements, Argon actively contributes to the community through advisory and directorial roles in organizations such as the Institute of Big Data Governance, the eHealth Consortium, and the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, among others. In his new role, Argon will champion the growth of ICT business by accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, simplifying digital transformation for clients, and delivering AI empowered ICT solutions and platform that meet the evolving needs of mass market, corporate and SME customers. Argon will also support corporate customers in expanding their business overseas seamlessly by leveraging the Group's regional strengths. Additionally, he will drive the Group regional expansion by strengthening system integration and enhancing ICT and digital solutions locally and internationally. Andrew Kwok, Chief Executive Officer of HGC, said, "We are delighted to welcome Argon to HGC. His expertise and leadership will help advance our ICT strategies and support the Group's continuous growth in the region. Argon's appointment reinforces our focus on expanding our ICT business and achieving our goal of advancing global connectivity and innovation. We are confident that, under Argon's leadership, our ICT business will reach new heights, unlock future growth opportunities and further enhance our competitiveness in dynamic markets." Argon Ho, Chief Commercial Officer – Group ICT Business at HGC, said, "I am honored to join HGC and its dynamic and innovative team. Leveraging the Group's robust regional infrastructure, strong ecosystem partnerships, and pool of top talent, we are well-positioned to harness emerging technologies like AI to deliver customized ICT solutions that empower clients at every level on their digital transformation journey. Moving forwards, we will focus on AI integration, cybersecurity, and regional expansion, to drive the continued growth of our ICT business and reinforce HGC's reputation as a leading provider of innovative ICT solutions." The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About HGC Global Communications Limited HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international telecom operator and ICT solution provider. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 20 global offices and staff presence in 33 cities worldwide. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate, SME and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. In 2019, HGC Group completed the acquisition of Macroview Telecom Limited (Macroview), a leading digital technology solution and managed services provider. The addition of Macroview further accelerates HGC Group's digital transformation path and positioning as a pioneering ICT and digital services leader. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities, transport, social infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and environmental infrastructure in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
Creators of hit video game Black Myth: Wukong announce sequel featuring legendary ghost slayer Zhong Kui
BEIJING: The creators of Black Myth: Wukong, the action role-playing video game that took the gaming world by storm and stamped China's mark on global game development, have announced a new entry in the series that has once again sparked excitement among fans. Chinese studio Game Science introduced Black Myth: Zhong Kui at the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany on Tuesday (Aug 19). A near-two-minute teaser trailer featured the titular character Zhong Kui, a deity in Chinese mythology traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings. He is often portrayed as a towering figure with a big black beard, bulging eyes and a wrathful expression. Beyond confirming that the game is in early development and will similarly be steeped in Chinese mythology like Black Myth: Wukong, Tencent-backed Game Science has yet to release any gameplay footage or even a rough release date. The studio said on its website that it is the company's 'tradition' to report its progress to players every Aug 20, and that 'this year is no exception'. While the announcement took place on the evening of Aug 19 in Cologne, it was already Aug 20 in China, aligning with the studio's chosen date. Game Science has traditionally released new content or teasers for the Black Myth series on Aug 20 each year. In 2020, it unveiled a 13-minute gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Wukong, followed by additional gameplay footage and an in-game cutscene in subsequent years. The game was officially released on Aug 20, 2024. However, the game is 'little more than an empty folder at this stage', said Game Science, adding that it was 'not even done with the outline yet'. 'There's hardly any game footage we could share. To keep all hands focused on development, we decided to deliver a CG (computer graphics) short to let everyone know that a new project has kicked off,' the studio wrote in an FAQ section on its website. Black Myth: Zhong Kui will be released on PC and all 'mainstream' console platforms, Game Science said. SPIRITS STIRRED, FANS THRILLED Game Science uploaded the teaser to its official social media platforms, including Chinese microblogging site Weibo, where it quickly drew an enthusiastic response. The hashtag 'Black Myth' surged to the top of Weibo's hot search list, racking up nearly 18 million concurrent views as fans expressed excitement over the upcoming sequel. A popular Chinese gaming blogger, Zhang Jia, who has more than 1 million followers on Weibo, shared clips of non-Chinese gamers reacting to the announcement of Black Myth: Zhong Kui. "The hype … is real, the foreigners are going crazy when they showed Black Myth: Zhong Kui on the big screen,' he wrote. But Zhang believes Zhong Kui's mythology may be "more difficult" for non-Chinese players to digest compared to Journey to the West, the classic Chinese epic that inspired Black Myth: Wukong and is more widely known internationally. Black Myth: Wukong follows the Journey to the West character known as the Monkey King or Sun Wukong, as he embarks on a quest to reclaim six magical relics. Game Science has said it's still 'exploring and experimenting' with the 'concrete differences' between Wukong and Zhong Kui. 'So take it easy, let us impress ourselves first before we serve it to you,' it wrote on its website. Even as anticipation builds, it remains to be seen whether Black Myth: Zhong Kui can replicate the success reaped by its predecessor. Black Myth: Wukong saw more than 4 million people add the title to their wishlists on Steam before its launch, making it the most 'wishlisted' game on the digital platform in early 2024. Physical editions were also sold out within seconds on Chinese e-commerce platform The game reached more than 2.2 million peak concurrent users (PCCU) on Steam within its first 24 hours, making it the most popular single-player game by that metric in the platform's history, according to video game research firm Niko Partners. It ranks second among all types of games by PCCU, coming in just behind battle royale game PUBG which peaked at 3.2 million.
