A recent report reveals that Black Myth: Wukong had a budget of $42 million, just one-tenth of what the development of Concord is said to have cost.

Black Myth: Wukong Cost $42 Million

Few surprises from 2024 can rival Black Myth: Wukong, the game by Game Science for PS5 and PC, which still has yet to announce any news regarding its Xbox Series X/S version.

Its stunning visuals and refined Soulslike gameplay would have been enough to guarantee success. However, few anticipated the warm reception it received, especially in its home country, China.

In just three days, Wukong sold ten million copies, a number that doubled within its first month—an achievement very few games can match, made even more significant now that we know the game’s budget.

According to a Chinese publication from the Hangzhou Tax Bureau, the total budget for Black Myth: Wukong is around 300 million yuan. While 300 million may seem like a large figure, it’s “only” $42.36 million or €38.72 million when converted.

“Our estimate for the development of Black Myth: Wukong is slightly over 300 million yuan,” the report states, which also reveals how the agency assisted Game Science in producing the game.

“To help the studio benefit from tax exemptions, we established a communication channel to guide them and standardize their research and development expenses,” the statement explains.

Budget Contrasts Sharply With Western Game Developments

The $42 million figure is even more impressive given the scale of Wukong, a game that stands toe-to-toe with Western AAA titles and surpasses many other soulslike games, at least in terms of visuals.

Notably, the team that developed the game never exceeded 140 people, even after expanding to complete Wukong. The original team in 2020 consisted of only 30 professionals.

Recent reports suggested that Wukong’s budget could be as high as $70 million, a slightly higher figure that likely includes marketing costs for the game.

Wukong‘s budget contrasts sharply with Western game developments, highlighting how modern AAA games have increasingly astronomical budgets. One notable example is Concord, Sony’s failed hero shooter, which reportedly had a budget of nearly $400 million.

Even more significant is the case of Ubisoft’s Skull & Bones. According to recent leaks, its development is rumored to have cost $800 million—20 times more than the budget handled by Game Science.

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Be sure to check out other news Black Myth Wukong Review and also The Mythical Origins of Black Myth: Wukong And don’t forget to bookmark Black Myth: Wukong Wiki, as you most assuredly will need it!