Chinese developer Game Science has achieved a remarkable milestone with their action RPG Black Myth: Wukong, which has become the most-played single-player game ever on Steam. Within hours of its launch, the game reached an astonishing peak of 1,443,570 concurrent players, surpassing previous record holders like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring.
This unprecedented success places Black Myth: Wukong as the fourth highest concurrent player count ever on Steam, trailing only behind multiplayer giants PUBG, Palworld, and Counter-Strike 2. The game's popularity extends beyond Valve's platform, with simultaneous releases on PlayStation 5, WeGame, and the Epic Games Store, suggesting an even larger player base across all platforms.
Key highlights of Black Myth: Wukong's launch include:
- Over 1.4 million concurrent players on Steam alone
- Fourth highest concurrent player count in Steam history
- Surpassed popular titles like Dota 2, Elden Ring, and Baldur's Gate 3
- Very positive user review rating on Steam with nearly 30,000 reviews
While the game has received critical acclaim for its combat, boss fights, and world design, it's not without controversy. Reports have surfaced about the marketing team's instructions to content creators, prohibiting feminist propaganda and the use of certain trigger words in coverage. Additionally, Game Science has yet to address allegations of sexist comments made by studio founders and developers over the past decade.
As Black Myth: Wukong continues to captivate players worldwide, the gaming industry watches closely to see if it can maintain its momentum and potentially challenge the all-time Steam records held by multiplayer behemoths. Regardless of its future trajectory, the game has already made history and solidified its place as a landmark achievement for Chinese game development on the global stage.