Developer Game Science’s upcoming game Black Myth Wukong has jumped to the top of Steam’s wishlist charts despite video game news outlet IGN accusing the developer of “sexism.”
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
According to Steam DB, Black Myth Wukong has been wishlisted 479,264 times and is the most wishlisted game ahead of Hollow Knight: Silksong, Frostpunk 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, and The First Descendant.
Steam DB’s Most Wishlisted Upcoming Steam Games chart
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The game hit the top of the charts despite IGN accusing the game’s developer Game Science and its employees of “sexism.” In November 2023, IGN’s Rebekah Valentine and Khee Hoon Chan accused the developer.
The duo reported, “Several posts have surfaced from Chinese social media site Weibo, written by individuals from the studio, that contain multiple references to [anatomy] and sexual innuendos.”
They also stated, “This was coupled by recruitment posters by the studio, produced in 2015, which featured images and headlines that point to a culture of ingrained sexism in Game Science.”
The article provides no evidence of these headlines or posters. However, it does give descriptions, “In one poster, a risque illustration that resembles the artwork of Austrian artist Egon Schiele is accompanied by a header that says ‘Mandatory self-pleasure’. In another poster that featured the rear view of a woman, the ad reads, ‘Don’t screw your colleagues’. In the same ad, friends with benefits were also implied as an office perk. And a third poster, featuring a dumbbell, is far more pointed, with the ad stating that ‘fatties should f**k off.'”
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
The report also claimed that co-founder of Game Science Feng Ji said in a post to Chinese social media website Weibo, “I want to expand my circle and hire more people, get licked until I can’t get an erection.”
It also alleges he wrote, “I know, you just happen to be a little depressed. It is my honor to provide you with some comfort in the lower half of your body.”
Furthermore, the report claims he wrote, “I got wet after watching it a couple of times… the pressure in my crotch is immense!”
IGN’s translation of Feng Ji’s Weibo post
The report also took issue with the developer’s co-founder and lead artist Yang Qi declaring that men and women are biologically different. The report alleged that he wrote, that men “were holding a heavy machine gun and shooting at governments in your dreams, what the ladies are dreaming about are bags that would make their friends jealous.” He then concluded the post by suggesting that he would need to put on silk stockings and suspenders to work, brew chrysanthemum tea, and put a humidifier on his table to make ‘soft and effeminate things’.”
IGN’s translation of Yang Qi’s social media post
However, these translations have been called into question. A clip from Asmongold Clips notes that Feng Ji’s comment “is a used idiom in the Chinese language. As a colloquial expression used humorously or sarcastically to describe a situation where excessive flattery or sycophancy has an overwhelming and paralyzing effect on someone. The use of such metaphors can be found in informal speech on social media.”
The video also alleges that the other posts were translated “in the most uncharitable way possible” in order to push the narrative that the developer is sexist.
Nevertheless, IGN doubled down on the accusations as part of their Black Myth: Wukong first impression article. Valentine wrote a section addressing the outlet’s report from November.
She stated, “Last year, we published a comprehensive report on IGN detailing a number of sexist and inappropriate remarks made by multiple developers of Black Myth: Wukong, including those in leadership roles at Game Science. As of the publication of this preview, Game Science has yet to provide any response or statement addressing our report or their past remarks.”
After detailing how she enjoyed the preview of the game at Summer Game Fest, Valentine added, “It is also true that several of the people who are making it have made disparaging remarks about women, and don’t seem to be interested either in retracting their past statements, or in supporting the numerous women who are being harassed in online conversations about Black Myth: Wukong purely for expressing their discomfort with those statements. Both of these ideas can exist simultaneously – what audiences want to do about this conflict is ultimately their choice.”
She then concluded, “One last note – I didn’t see any women or femme-coded characters in the demo, and I was able to confirm from Game Science that there were none present in the section of the game presented to the press. There will be women in the final game, but for now it is impossible to really comment on whether or not Game Science developers’ expressed beliefs permeate Black Myth: Wukong in a meaningful way.”
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
It appears that audiences are not buying Valentine’s story and narrative as the game currently sits as the most wishlisted game on Steam with almost half a million followers.
Black Myth: Wukong is available to purchase on August 19, 2024.
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
What do you make of Black Myth: Wukong going to the top of the Steam wishlist charts despite IGN accusing the game’s developers of sexism?
‘femme-coded characters in the demo” women. Just say women. I cannot stand this clumsy attempt to alter speech.
I have no intention of buying a Chinese game but I believe absolutely none of the claims considering the people reporting. Theyre banking on weibo being basically not existent here so people won’t try to verify
I wonder why you’re not buying Wukong because it’s a Chinese game despite it making sense since Journey to the West is a Chinese book.
Silksong being at #2 is just depressing.