Frenzy over 'Black Myth' game ignites growth in multiple industries

Following the debut of hit game “Black Myth: Wukong,” a seasoned gamer from Shanghai bought himself a 2-meter-long Golden Cudgel, the magical staff wielded by Wukong, who is better known to Western audiences as the legendary Monkey King.

Now a popular item on e-commerce platforms like Taobao and Tmall, the Golden Cudgel the gamer bought is advertised as an accurate replica of the prop from the game. According to the gamer, it weighs over five kilograms and is priced at nearly 3,000 yuan (US$422).

“It’s well worth the money. After all, it’s not technically easy to make the exact product as in the game,” the gamer wrote in a social media post.

Black Myth: Wukong's cultural products are popular after the game's debut. File photos

Since its release, the Shenzhen-made action role-playing game has not only captivated the gaming world but also created a “Black Myth” effect across several related industries.

During the week of the game’s release, sales of home video game consoles on Tmall surged over 80% compared to the previous year. Sales of other items, including computer processors, keyboards, mice, and headphones, also saw significant increases. Even the stock prices and valuations of related businesses were pushed higher.

Black Myth: Wukong's cultural products are popular after the game's debut.

Players have also been inspired to visit the real-world historical sites and ancient architecture that were meticulously recreated for the game. North China’s Shanxi Province, which is home to many of the game’s settings, has seen a surge in visitors eager to follow in the footsteps of Wukong.

A visitor wearing a golden hoop, an iconic accessory of Wukong, poses for a photo in front of a "Black Myth" poster in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, in this Sept. 25 photo.

According to online travel platform Fliggy, interest in Shanxi tourism doubled on the day of the game’s release when compared to the previous month. Sites featured in the game, including Yuhuang Temple, Chongfu Temple, and Tiefo Temple, saw a surge in searches.

Wang Zhenjun, director of the cultural industry research center at Zhengzhou University, attributed the successful crossover development in the cultural industry to flourishing digital technologies, the internet, and new media.

“Young consumers have increasingly diverse demands for cultural products and focus on cultural significance and emotional value over mere functionality,” Wang said.

Black Myth: Wukong's cultural products are popular after the game's debut.

Cai Shangwei, director of the cultural industry research center at Sichuan University, suggested that China’s cultural industry should further integrate with the real economy, citing the sci-fi industry as a successful example of this strategy. “Besides pure consumption of cultural content, developing peripheral products is an effective way to boost sales and expand profits,” Cai said. (Xinhua)