Threads
- Black Myth: Wukong received a low score from certain media outlets due to a lack of inclusivity and diversity.
- The game is based on a Chinese novel, so this argument doesn’t make sense at all.
- Despite those low scores, the action RPG has made history by becoming the biggest single-player release on Steam.
Lately, Sweet Baby Inc. has popped up on many player’s radars. Most people aren’t fond of this company because it makes irrelevant changes to games to cater to modern audiences. Moreover, these changes often come across as forced and unnecessary.
Over the last few months, Sweet Baby Inc. has been involved in its fair share of controversies. However, the group highlights a broader problem in the industry, which has come up once again with the release of Black Myth: Wukong.
After Game Science refused to work with Sweet Baby Inc, the studio was heavily criticized by certain media outlets. Some outlets then proceeded to cut review points for a supposed lack of inclusivity. Needless to say, this is completely unacceptable.
Why it matters: There’s a lot to discuss about Black Myth: Wukong, but a lack of diversity and inclusivity isn’t one of the things that should be taking up everyone’s attention.
A Monkey As A Main Character Is Not Diverse Enough?
First, let’s understand what diversity actually is. Simply put, it means giving equal rights to different types of people, like different genders and races. However, I don’t understand how and why the diversity point stands in this game.
You are playing as a monkey who aims to beat everyone who comes his way. The lore goes deeper, and it gets pretty interesting. The game is inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West, so there is no real concept of modern audiences here.
The characters being of different genders wouldn’t make much sense either. Of course, this story involves Asian people, so the game features Asian people. I don’t think that comes across as much of a surprise.
Why is the diversity argument even a thing here? Perhaps this is happening because Game Science refused to work with Sweet Baby Inc., or maybe every game now needs to come with a forced diversity push.
After about 20 hours with the game, I can say that most of the characters you battle or come across aren’t even human. Do we need diversity for monsters and animals now? Also, there are plenty of female characters to meet if that’s a concern.
Sun Wukong himself is a monkey and comes from a whole race of such people. Suffice it to say, there’s plenty of diversity here.
Black Myth: Wukong Proved Them Wrong
It’s no secret that many want Sweet Baby Inc. gone from the industry. The company previously worked on games like Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, and it’s no secret that this particular release has been a disaster.
Warner Bros. still blames this game for major financial losses to this day. All the diversity in the world couldn’t save Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, and perhaps the time spent on this needless endeavor would have been better spent on refining the things that really matter.
Elsewhere, the likes of Palworld and Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t need Sweet Baby Inc. to become some of this industry’s greatest hits in recent memory. Black Myth: Wukong has found itself in a similar position.
Shattering everyone’s expectations, it ended up breaking several records on Steam. Some have tried to argue that this traffic is mostly coming from China, but this is only natural for a national product that is making headlines for its success.
Most fans also love Black Myth: Wukong, which speaks volumes about its quality. This is why I find the whole campaign about this supposed lack of diversity disingenuous in the first place.
Just Enjoy The Game
My biggest issue with the whole controversy is that everyone seems to be ignoring the real strengths and weaknesses of Black Myth: Wukong.
The game is genuinely fun and a huge testament to Game Science’s talents. Yes, it has problems, including the many technical issues other reviews pointed out. However, a lack of diversity isn’t one of these.
I’m much more interested in nuanced discussions that focus on the genuine flaws and strengths of Black Myth: Wukong. The story borrows from existing source material, so there’s no point critiquing it for something that has been carried over from Journey to the West.
To be honest, I’m glad Game Science didn’t go out of its way to appeal to modern audiences. The game does not suffer for this supposed lack of diversity.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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