Black Myth: Wukong Sets Record for Most-Played Single-Player Game on Steam

In a stunning debut, Black Myth: Wukong has rocketed to the top of Steam's most-played games list, surpassing Cyberpunk 2077 to become the most-played single-player game ever on Valve’s platform. This action RPG, developed by the Chinese studio Game Science, launched early this morning and has already made an indelible mark on the gaming community.

The game’s launch numbers are nothing short of extraordinary. With a peak of 1,443,570 concurrent players, Black Myth: Wukong now holds the record for the most concurrent players in a single-player game on Steam. This figure is expected to grow as the weekend approaches, bringing more players into the fold.

Within just 24 hours, Black Myth: Wukong has secured its place among the top four games with the highest concurrent player counts on Steam. It trails only behind heavyweights like PUBG (3,257,248), Palworld (2,101,867), and Valve’s own Counter-Strike 2 (1,818,773), leaving behind major titles such as Dota 2, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3. The game has already garnered nearly 30,000 user reviews on Steam, achieving a ‘very positive’ rating, solidifying its place as a must-play title.

However, Steam’s numbers only tell part of the story. Black Myth: Wukong has also launched on PlayStation 5, Tencent’s WeGame portal in China, and the Epic Games Store, with an Xbox Series X and S version set to release later. This multi-platform launch suggests that the game’s reach and impact will be even greater than currently reported.

IGN’s review of Black Myth: Wukong awarded it an 8/10, praising the game’s combat, boss fights, and world design, while noting some technical issues. “Despite some frustrating technical issues, Black Myth: Wukong is a great action game with fantastic combat, exciting bosses, tantalising secrets, and a beautiful world,” the review stated.

Interestingly, the game’s marketing has not been without controversy. IGN confirmed that an email from the Black Myth: Wukong marketing team instructed content creators who received a Steam key to avoid including “feminist propaganda” or using “trigger words” such as COVID-19 in their coverage. This directive has raised eyebrows and sparked discussion within the gaming community.

Black Myth: Wukong is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of the year, not only for its gameplay and technical achievements but also for the conversations it is igniting within the gaming world.