It may sound far-fetched, but the future of global technological supremacy may depend on video games.
Black Myth: China’s latest blockbuster, Wukong, isn’t just breaking gaming records, it could be causing a profound shift in the global balance of technological power. What appears to be just an action-packed video game is actually a key element in the Chinese government’s larger strategy to counter Western domination of the high-tech industry.
The game, released by Chinese company Game Science on August 19, 2024, is based on the legendary 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West. This novel tells the story of Xuanzang, a monk who travels to India in search of Buddhist scrolls. Monkey Son Goku faces off against various demons and spirits and protects the monk while fighting.
Black Myth: Wukong has captivated millions of people with its stunning visuals and storytelling. The work quickly became a cultural sensation in China and abroad, garnering widespread attention and praise for its graphic fidelity and technical sophistication.
As researchers of world affairs, we understand that the success of this game goes beyond downloads and accolades. This success has spilled over into China’s technology sector, with far-reaching effects.
Video games and world power
For years, China has been playing catch-up in the technology race, particularly in the production of semiconductors, the tiny microchips that power everything from smartphones to advanced artificial intelligence systems. The United States has maintained its dominance in this area by restricting China’s access to cutting-edge chip manufacturing technology.
As of 2024, China is moving from aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomacy to a more cooperative approach to rebuilding international relations. The government also required companies such as Huawei to develop domestically produced chips. However, China’s success in using these approaches to promote semiconductor development and production has been limited.
Historically, video games have played an important role in driving innovation in the semiconductor industry. From the early days of the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System to the modern PlayStation 5, gaming has always pushed chipmakers to develop faster and more efficient processors and graphics processing units (GPUs). The powerful graphical requirements of modern games (high resolution, fast frame rates, real-time rendering) require cutting-edge semiconductor technology. The development of advanced GPUs by companies like NVIDIA was directly influenced by the needs of the gaming industry.
Gamers will need an advanced processor to enjoy Black Myth: Wukong’s high-end visual and gameplay experience. Built using cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5 video game development tools, the game is a visual spectacle with lifelike graphics, a seamless open-world environment, and a complex combat system. The game is available on PlayStation 5 and PC, and Game Science plans to release an Xbox version.
Black Myth: Wukong features rich visuals and complex gameplay. Provided by: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
As Black Myth: Wukong sweeps across gaming platforms, it’s not only putting pressure on Chinese semiconductor manufacturers to make more and better chips, but also gaming PCs with high-performance hardware, especially powerful GPUs. It also reveals a huge market potential. The success of this game shows how great the demand is.
Market analysts expect the revenue of China’s video game industry to reach US$66.13 billion in 2024, while the US video game industry’s revenue is US$78.01 billion.
China’s gaming industry has emerged as a global powerhouse, but it remains dependent on foreign chips. Coupled with Western restrictions on chip exports, Wukong has become an important catalyst for China’s semiconductor development, and domestic companies are now facing increased pressure to innovate.
This push is consistent with the Chinese government’s broader technological ambitions. The government’s “Made in China 2025” plan calls for technological independence, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, where China lags behind. And advanced GPUs aren’t limited to the entertainment industry. These have become essential to advances in AI such as deep learning and autonomous systems.
Making China’s cultural power flexible
It may seem strange to link video games and geopolitics, but Black Myth: Wukong is more than just entertainment. This is a tool in China’s soft power arsenal. Soft power is when nations influence each other through cultural exports. For decades, Western countries, especially the United States, have dominated world culture through Hollywood, music, and video games.
China is now demonstrating its cultural power. Black Myth: Wukong’s success overseas has been hailed as a game-changing title and is part of the Chinese government’s strategy to export its cultural and technological capabilities. Millions of gamers around the world are exposed to Chinese mythology, art, and stories through highly sophisticated digital media.
“China continues to win” American YouTuber enthusiastically reacts to Black Myth: Goku. (Audio NSFW)
But Black Myth: Goku is more than just a cultural victory for China. That’s a warning shot. The country is capitalizing on its burgeoning gaming industry to drive advancements in areas that will define the future of technology. This game not only exports Chinese culture, but also strengthens China’s technological base by promoting domestic semiconductor demand.
While Black Myth: Wukong entertains millions, it also demonstrates China’s growing influence in the digital realm. In the future, we may look back on Black Myth: Wukong not just as a successful video game, but as one that helped China close its technological gap with the West. The Chinese government is playing a long game, and video games like “Black Myth: Wukong” are proving to be effective weapons.
