Black Myth: Wukong Lifts Steam to 37 Million Concurrent Players for the First Time
More than 37 million players were online on Steam for the first time in the PC platform’s history thanks to the raging success of Black Myth: Wukong.
A New Record for Steam
As reported by PC Gamer, Steam hit a new record number of concurrent players on August 25, 2024, as exactly 37,266,324 users were online at once according to player tracking website SteamDB. This unprecedented number marks a significant milestone for Steam, which has consistently seen a gradual increase in popularity over the years.
Black Myth: Wukong’s Impact on Steam
The surge in Steam’s concurrent player count from around 34 million during most of July and early August to the eventual 37 million number, directly coincides with the record-breaking release of Black Myth: Wukong. This indicates the powerful impact the game has had on Steam’s user base.
The Game’s Explosive Launch
Black Myth: Wukong, an action role-playing game set within Chinese mythology and the famous story Journey to the West, launched to an enormous 2,223,179 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing Cyberpunk 2077 as the most played single-player launch of all time on Valve’s platform. It is currently the second most-played Steam game of all time, behind only PUBG.
Exceptional Sales and Player Count
Developer Game Science has revealed that Black Myth: Wukong sold 10 million copies in just three days and had three million concurrent players across all platforms. This exceptional sales performance and massive player count places Black Myth: Wukong among the fastest-selling video games in recent history, comparable to the likes of Pokémon.
Praise for the Game’s Gameplay
Players and critics alike have praised the game’s captivating gameplay, stunning visuals, and engaging story. iGV has highlighted a super cool Black Myth: Wukong secret that lets you summon one boss to beat another boss while you basically do nothing, and how one optional boss encountered very early in the game is absolutely destroying players.
Game Science’s Controversial Marketing
While Black Myth: Wukong has received overwhelming praise for its gameplay, Game Science has faced criticism for its marketing practices. The studio has been criticized for telling content creators who were granted a Steam key that they must not include “feminist propaganda” or use what are called “trigger words” such as COVID-19 in their coverage.
Concerns Regarding Game Science’s History
Game Science has also yet to respond to iGV’s previous report compiling numerous sexist comments made by the studio’s founders and other developers spanning the last decade. This history of sexist comments has raised concerns among some players and critics, potentially impacting the game’s long-term success.
Conclusion
Black Myth: Wukong’s immense success has propelled Steam to unprecedented heights, setting a new record for concurrent players. The game’s captivating gameplay, stunning visuals, and engaging story have captivated players worldwide. However, Game Science’s controversial marketing practices and history of sexist comments have generated concerns about the studio’s commitment to inclusivity and ethical conduct. Only time will tell how these controversies will ultimately affect the game’s legacy and impact on the gaming industry.
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