Dot Esports Associate Editor Tom Foley, who previously worked at CBR, raged at Black Myth: Wukong developer Game Science and demanded they include more diversity in the game.
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
In an article titled “Black Myth: Wukong’s shameless lack of diversity is attracting the wrong type of fans” Foley bemoaned numerous gamers praising the game for not being gay or woke.
Foley fumed, “On Aug. 21, Pubity’s Instagram page shared news of Wukong breaking Steam’s single-player record, and the comments are full of unsavory replies from fans delighted the game isn’t inclusive. ‘Because it’s not gay or woke,’ a top comment reads, which at the time of writing has nearly 4,000 likes. ‘So proud of this game that doesn’t support any genders or sexual orientations, unlike the other games nowadays,’ another user said. The common sentiment is that ‘liberals are in TEARS,’ and it sounds like right-wing gamers couldn’t be happier.”
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
READ: ResetEra Users Get Depressed After ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ Breaks Concurrent Player Number Records
Foley then unleashed his anger at Game Science despite giving the game an 8 out of 10 and claiming it “is fantastic.”
He wrote, “But after 40-plus hours, I’ve yet to encounter a single female character—aside from one inanimate miniboss called the Mother of Stone—and no one can convince me that’s a good thing.”
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
From there he cites a highly skeptical study that claims 10% percent of all people live LGBT+ lifestyles. This idea was refuted by the American Life League, who notes this statistic originated from flawed research conducted by Alfred Kinsey in 1948. Furthermore, it notes “Even the Kinsey Institute finally released the comprehensive results of its 1970 poll after 20 years and admitted that it found that less than two percent of all males” could be included in that figure.
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
Nevertheless, Foley uses this new survey to claim that “Diverse games appeal to more players, which can improve sales by helping developers tap into new markets.”
He also adds, “Diverse games feel more relatable to a broader audience and satisfy the community’s growing demand for inclusivity in the industry.”
Ironically, his previous examples of players not wanting “diversity” in the game contradicts his claims here. Furthermore, even he admits that Black Myth: Wukong broke the record for the most concurrent players for a single-player game on Steam and he accuses them of not being diverse enough.
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
After completely contradicting his own points and making a fool of himself, Foley continued to embarrass himself by claiming, “There are plenty of excellent games that don’t have a diverse cast of characters simply because there’s no room for them. But there was room for diversity in Black Myth: Wukong, and the developer seemingly chose to ignore it.”
He then claims that the game that features an anthropomorphic monkey as its main character is in reality a “straight male.” He wrote, “When a developer elects to only feature straight male characters, it sends a message that diversity isn’t important—or worse, that it’s a bad thing.”
“This rallies toxic community members who share the same opinion, encouraging passionate gamers to go for each other’s throats,” Foley bemoaned.
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
Finally and ironically, after hating on gamers and spreading discord and divisiveness, Foley concludes his article by condemning himself, “Catalyzing a divide between gamers is terrible for the industry. We all share a common hobby, and we should stand together to make sure as many people can enjoy it as possible.”
“The world is divisive enough; there are countless conflicts happening around us that lead to tragic losses of life every day. Gaming is an escape from the tumultuous world we live in. We shouldn’t be carrying hate into what should be a safe space for everyone,” he concluded.
A screenshot from Black Myth: Wukong (2024), Game Science
What do you make of Foley’s take on Game Science and Black Myth: Wukong?
NEXT: ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ Soars To Steam’s #2 Most Concurrent Players Of All Time And Is Still Climbing
