“Who cares about diversity?” – Black Myth: Wukong Gets Criticised For Lack of Diversity, Gamers Respond

The game Black Myth: Wukong was released worldwide on August 20 via Windows, PS5, and Xbox Series. The video game has garnered significant attention from gamers worldwide with it even being reported that Chinese employers were giving their employees time off to play the game.

Screen Rant, a Canadian entertainment website, however, has mixed reviews about the game. Apart from the repetitiveness of the game, Screen Rant also thinks that Black Myth: Wukong lacks diversity and inclusivity.

In case you’re not familiar with the character, the game is inspired by the Chinese folklore Journey to the West, featuring the monkey itself – Wukong. Many of us grew up watching Journey to the West, a 1996 Hong Kong drama that received major praise for its plot and cast, particularly Dicky Cheung, who played the rebellious Wukong.

In Black Myth: Wukong, players control the titular character, who is addressed as “The Destined One” in the game. Similar to the novel and the TV series, his weapon is the Ruyi Jingu Bang, the magical staff that Wukong has with him at all times.

Despite the game’s flaws, Screen Rant praised Wukong for its cinematography, dubbing it “breathtaking.” The diversity in its items collected throughout the game was also highlighted.

“Historical accuracies > diversity”

Gamers around the world, on the other hand, are not fond of Screen Rant’s take on inclusivity and diversity.

Many believe that the mentioned elements are not important as long as the game contains an immersive plot, as well as characters that stay true to its source material.

Regardless, as of August 23, 2024, Black Myth: Wukong has sold over 10 million units and gained 3 million concurrent players across all platforms, as revealed in a Facebook post. 

You can watch the trailer for the game below.

To those who have played the game, what do you think of Black Myth: Wukong?

Also read: “Set within the Dune universe” – An Online Game Based on Dune Movies & Books is in the Works!