At The Game Awards 2024, “Black Myth: Wukong” secured wins in the Best Action Game and Players’ Voice categories but fell short of the coveted Game of the Year title, which was awarded to “Astro Bot.” This outcome led to visible disappointment among the development team from Game Science.
Feng Ji, CEO of Game Science, took to Weibo to express his sentiments, revealing that he had prepared an acceptance speech for the Game of the Year award two years prior, reflecting his confidence in the game’s success. He stated, “I feel like I came all the way here for nothing! Ji also questioned the criteria for the Game of the Year selection, expressing confusion over the decision-making process.
The team’s emotional investment was evident during the ceremony. Alanah Pearce, a former Sony Santa Monica writer present at the event, reported that members of the “Black Myth: Wukong” team were seen visibly upset when “Astro Bot” was announced as the winner. Watch this YouTube video by Kinda Funny Games to get a more solid idea of the fiasco.
Despite the disappointment, “Black Myth: Wukong” has achieved significant milestones, including being one of the first Chinese games to receive multiple nominations at The Game Awards. The game holds an 81 on Metacritic, making it one of the lowest-rated Game of the Year nominees in the award’s history.
The team’s reaction underscores the high stakes and emotional investment involved in game development, especially when cultural representation and national pride are intertwined with creative endeavors.
