Is Black Myth: Wukong “woke”? The controversy, explained | Vox

The Nugget

Black Myth: Wukong has ignited a culture war over its perceived political leanings, with players polarized around the game's merits and its connection to broader social issues. The controversy reflects deeper anxieties about Chinese influence in global media and the current "woke" landscape.

Make it stick

🎮 Black Myth: Wukong is based on the Journey to the West, transforming the legendary Monkey King into a video game hero.
🐉 The game's art design is stunning, showcasing meticulous representations of Chinese artifacts and mythology.
⚔️ Players face 90 to 113 bosses, adding a mix of challenge and linear gameplay structure to enhance user experience.
🌍 The game serves as a cultural introduction, providing Western audiences with engaging narratives from Chinese folklore.

The game's August 20 release broke records, selling 4.5 million copies and reaching over 2.2 million concurrent players on Steam.
Mixed reactions exist about its gameplay: some find it easy, while others deem it frustratingly difficult.
Despite polarized opinions, the game showcases fantastical elements infused with Buddhist themes, focusing on retrieving six relics representing the six senses.

The game has been branded as propaganda by some right-wing commentators while left critics attack it for a perceived lack of diversity.
A controversial list of topics issued by co-publisher Hero Games led to claims of censorship and backlash, heightening scrutiny and dialogue around the game's intentions and narrative.
Players disagree sharply over whether Wukong's absence of racial diversity detracts from its value, given that it leans heavily into Chinese mythology.

While the game has female characters, accusations stem from the perceived culture of its developers and previous misogynistic remarks, casting doubt on its inclusivity.
Critics were quick to tie their reactions to larger social issues, leading to debates overshadowing the game itself, focusing instead on meta-issues of "wokeness" rather than gameplay or narrative depth.
The perceptions surrounding Wukong may suggest the treacherous waters of soft power as Chinese creators enter a skeptical global gaming market.

"Black Myth: Wukong is neither woke nor anti-woke, but that hasn’t stopped players from using it to fuel their own agenda."
"The graphics and visuals are gorgeous, the animation is superb."
"Claims that Wukong has no women are false; there are plenty of female characters."
"What this fight does tell us, however, is that...China’s foray into exporting its soft power will likely be fraught with distrust."
"The most annoying thing about the debates surrounding Wukong...are being waged almost entirely in meta-arguments."

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.