A new video game adaptation of the iconic Journey to the West story, Black Myth Wukong is one of the most exciting hack-and-slash games in years. Developed by Game Science, the upcoming cross-platform game is closely approaching its long-planned release date.
With a host of combat techniques, skills, characters and a dense story, here’s everything you need to know about it ahead of the Black Myth Wukong release date.
Black Myth Wukong Release Date
The Black Myth: Wukong release date is Tuesday, August 20, 2024, but only on PlayStation 5 and PC, as confirmed by developer and publisher Game Science. Due to multiple reasons, the Xbox Series X|S launch date has been pushed back to a later date which has yet to be confirmed.
Black Myth Wukong is also not planned to be released on the lower-power Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles.
Why is Black Myth Wukong delayed on Xbox?
The Xbox version of Black Myth Wukong has been delayed for currently unconfirmed reasons, although many have suggested the game’s delay to be caused by the weaker Xbox Series S console. With the lower power of the Series S resulting in delays of Baldur’s Gate 3 in the past, it isn’t unreasonable to assume the same here.
However, the official word from developer Game Science is silence. Instead, the Xbox version will be discussed at a later date.
Black Myth Wukong System Requirements
Surprisingly, Black Myth Wukong system requirements are quite relaxed with even eight-year-old PCs capable of running the new RPG at minimum settings. Here’s a full table of system requirements:
Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
RAM | 16GB | 16GB |
GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580 | NVIDIA RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 5700 XT |
CPU | Intel i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 1600 | Intel i7-9700 or Ryzen 5 5500 |
STORAGE | 130GB | 130GB |
OS | Windows 10/11 | Windows 10/11 |
Does Black Myth Wukong Run On Steam Deck?
At the time of writing, Black Myth Wukong is not Steam Deck Verified, and it seems unlikely to run well on the Valve handheld.
While Black Myth Wukong may eventually run on the Steam Deck at very limited settings, it likely won’t run well or look very nice during gameplay. With titles like Cyberpunk 2077 do run on the Deck, they don’t particularly run well, especially without mods.
When Black Myth Wukong officially releases, we will update this article with more information.
Black Myth Wukong Story
Based on one of the most legendary myths of all time, Black Myth Wukong is an adaptation of Journey to the West. Based on the story of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, the mischievous protagonist has lofty ambitions of becoming one of the many gods in the region.
While the original novel is light-hearted and often childish, Black Myth Wukong is more of a serious, action-focused take on the story. Playing as the “Destined One”, you’ll journey to the western region and uncover the truth of the gods, battle rivals and uncover a forgotten legend.
Black Myth Wukong is not a direct adaptation of the Chinese novel. In fact, narratively the story takes place after the original story, although it retains its characters. In an interview with Eurogamer, a spokesperson for Game Science explained that the game’s narrative keeps characters and relationships from the book, but gives them entirely new events to experience.
“We keep the character relationships and we create these battle scenes where Wukong fights against the Yaoguai [boss enemies] to help people immerse into this amazing world," they explained.
Is Black Myth Wukong a Soulslike?
While many have assumed the upcoming game is a Soulslike, similar to Elden Ring or Lies of P, Black Myth Wukong is more of an action RPG. Unlike most Soulslike games, the combat has multiple difficulties and more free-flowing combat similar to games like Nier or Stellar Blade.
Game Science has been keen to make Black Myth more accessible for those who don’t want to deal with Soulslike difficulties. Furthermore, the game itself is designed more as an action game with bombastic set pieces and an engaging, direct story that doesn’t hide elements away from its players.
Alongside the game’s standard melee combat, there’s also spells to use that can deal damage or even immobilize enemies. There are also Transformations which allow Sun Wukong to turn into different forms such as the Red Tides form that turns the Monkey King into a flaming wolf. While some of these transformations can be earned via standard gameplay, others are locked behind optional bosses.
With that in mind, combat still has some obvious Souls influences. There’s a stamina bar that depletes as you use moves, experience is lost and enemies respawn when you die, and there are Shrines which act just like Dark Souls’ bonfires. However, with just how influential From Software’s Dark Souls series has been, even inspiring games like Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Black Myth was always bound to include some of the franchise’s key elements.
Is Black Myth Wukong Open World?
Black Myth Wukong is not an open-world game. Instead, the game is a mostly linear affair with clear story beats between zones. However, there is an element of exploration to be had throughout the game’s main story.
In some chapters, you’ll be able to head off the beaten track to discover optional bosses or find additional goodies. If you’re looking for an Elden Ring alternative, this isn’t for you, but if you’re looking for something more like a Boss Rush game, Wukong has you covered.
Is Black Myth Wukong On Game Pass?
At the time of writing, Black Myth Wukong is not coming to Xbox Game Pass on either PC or Xbox consoles. This means that the game also won’t be playable on Xbox Cloud Gaming on PC, mobile or older Xbox consoles.
There is a possibility that Black Myth could arrive on the Xbox subscription service sometime in the future, but nothing has been announced so far.
So, that covers the Black Myth Wukong release date and all the latest news that you need to know.