One of the most awaited Chinese video games ever, Black Myth: Wukong, is a high-end game with a blockbuster-level budget that emphasizes China’s aspirations to become a major cultural force in the world.
The game released on Tuesday, and an affiliate of the Chinese developer published a list of subjects to steer clear of when playing live streaming of the game.
One document has a “Don’t Talk” column that lists prohibited subjects like politics, “feminist propaganda,” the coronavirus, China’s policies regarding the video game industry, and other content that “incites negative speech.” This list provides insight into the limitations that Chinese content creators must contend with, as well as what Beijing views as sensitive subjects.
“In the 15 years that I’ve been doing this job, I’ve never seen anything so shameful. This is clearly a document that says we have to censor ourselves,” Renowned YouTube gaming broadcaster Benoit Regnier, a French journalist.
The launch of the game was historic for the Chinese gaming industry. It’s China’s first AAA title, a high-end, international game with intricate gameplay and cutting-edge graphics.
It’s among the most costly game with a budget of more than 400 million yuan ever created in China.
The 16th-century Chinese classic tale Journey to the West served as the inspiration for Black Myth: Wukong. Sun Wukong, popularly known as the Monkey King, is the model for the game’s protagonist since he fights opponents with a stick. Tencent Holdings, one of China’s biggest technological conglomerates and the nation’s biggest publisher of video games provides additional support to Game Science, owning a five percent ownership in the company.
COVID-19, “forced quarantine,” and “isolation” are among the subjects that ought to be avoided.
Rewriting its approach to the pandemic is Beijing’s goal. After receiving strong criticism, of China’s “zero-COVID” policy.