Black Myth Wukong developer controversy, explained

Controversy is courting Black Myth: Wukong ahead of its big release. No matter how promising Game Science’s action title looks, allegations of rife developer sexism are shrouding its potential.

Black Myth: Wukong looks incredible, it has to be said. All of its pre-release trailers and gameplay footage wowed us in some capacity, but the sexism controversy has overshadowed its long-awaited release (check out our countdown).

What is the Black Myth Wukong controversy?

The Black Myth: Wukong sexism controversy stems from employee reports that developers at Game Science have been making sexist comments for many years, and there’s a suggestion the company doesn’t want women playing its games.

In the last few years, we’ve seen a series of worrying insights into the video game industry’s behind-the-scenes nature. Activision notoriously came under fire in 2021 after a report indicated sexual harassment and sexism were ongoing in the company. Ubisoft was also accused of embodying a similar “toxic culture.”

According to IGN, posts from members of the studio were found on Chinese social media site Weibo containing “multiple references to genitalia and sexual innuendos. These have provoked a backlash among some in the games community, many of whom are women.”

The Gamer also reported alleged recruitment posters for Game Science advertising a “friends with benefits” culture at work, as well as a disturbing implication: “Fatties should fuck off.”

Worse still, using translated Weibo posts again, Game Science co-founder Yang Qi ranted about how certain games are specifically made for different genders. He claims games for men are like “holding a heavy machine gun and shooting at governments in your dreams, what the ladies are dreaming about are bags that would make their friends jealous.”

It remains to be seen if the controversy will negatively impact Black Myth: Wukong’s sales. The action title will be released on Aug. 20, 2024, in several editions and with special pre-order bonuses.

This isn’t all, either, as you can download the Black Myth: Wukong benchmark tool to ascertain how well your gaming rig performs ahead of the review embargo lifting.