Black Myth Wukong Has a Release Date, But Still No Reply to Reports of Sexism | Game Awards 2023

Today at The Game Awards, Black Myth Wukong developer Game Science showed off a new trailer for their epic fantasy adventure based on Journey to the West, including a new release date. But despite its unveiling of a bombastic new trailer, the studio is maintaining its silence on numerous allegations of sexist behavior from the studio’s members over the last decade.

There’s a lot to be impressed by in the trailer itself, which shows off numerous new characters, enemies, and areas. The creatures Game Science has designed are stunning and strange, and the visuals – apparently a mix of gameplay and in-game cinematics – are impressive to behold. We’re also introduced to some of Black Myth’s main themes, with the trailer backed by discussions of the nature of good versus evil, and the impact of destiny – presumably on the hero, Sun Wukong.

The trailer ends with a release date of August 20, 2024, with plans for release on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam and Epic.

Game Science’s unveiling of this trailer at The Game Awards, however, comes just weeks after our own report compiling numerous sexist comments made by the studio’s founders and other developers spanning the last decade. As we reported, these comments have sparked a growing backlash among Chinese gamers, particularly women and their allies, who find them demeaning and alienating – though a large contingent of other gamers have leaped to Game Science’s defense in response. As a result, many of the videos, discussions, and communities growing around Black Myth Wukong have become spaces of ferocious debate between women demanding apology and accountability, and their detractors replying with sexism and cruelty.

We reached out to Game Science for comment for our article at the time, but the studio has not addressed any of these remarks to us or anywhere else at this time. We also reached out to The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley for comment on the game’s appearance at The Game Awards today, but did not hear back.