The Global Ascent of "Wukong": A Cultural and Language Learning Phenomenon

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 20th, the eagerly awaited video game "Black Myth: Wukong" launched globally, swiftly ascending to the top of Steam's best-selling list in 29 countries and regions, and attracting a record-breaking number of concurrent players within hours. The game story is based on "Journey to the West", one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, which has ignited a global fascination with Wukong, rejuvenating interest in the original novel and prompting a deeper exploration of Chinese culture and language.

"Wukong" or "Sun Wukong", one of the main characters of "Journey to the West", has become a renowned symbol of Chinese culture. The English version of "Black Myth: Wukong" retains many terms in their original Chinese pronunciation, such as "Wukong" for the Monkey King and "Guai" or "Yao Guai" for monsters, rather than using liberal translations. This approach has significantly increased demand for Chinese language education, as players and fans seek to understand and connect with the stories and traditions behind the game and its cultural icons.