Report: Black Myth Wukong may have a secret exclusivity deal with PlayStation, preventing an Xbox release

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New reports indicate an exclusivity agreement is keeping Black Myth: Wukong off of Xbox consoles for a time.

Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong adapts the epic novel Journey to the West, and has taken the Chinese gaming market by storm. (Image credit: Game Science)

What you need to know

  • Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game developed and published by Chinese studio Game Science. 
  • Black Myth: Wukong recently launched on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC, while Xbox Series X|S versions are in the works but do not currently have a release date. 
  • Reports from IGN and Forbes indicate the Xbox versions of the game were not delayed due to technical issues, but because of an undisclosed exclusivity agreement between Game Science and Sony. Windows Central can corroborate these reports.

There's a very weird exclusivity deal that seems to be in place for one of the biggest games of the year so far.

Black Myth: Wukong, an action-RPG developed and published by Chinese studio Game Science, recently launched on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC, letting players experience a new telling of the epic novel Journey to the West. While Xbox Series X|S versions of the game were announced, these versions were delayed when the game's release date was announced earlier in the year, with Game Science citing a need to further optimize these versions in order to hit internal quality standards.

According to reports from Forbes and IGN, this delay was not due to any technical issues, but instead because of an undisclosed exclusivity agreement between Game Science and PlayStation parent company Sony. Windows Central's sources can corroborate this information. 

Black Myth: Wukong - Final Trailer | PS5 Games - YouTube Black Myth: Wukong - Final Trailer | PS5 Games - YouTube
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Back when Black Myth: Wukong was first delayed on Xbox, Windows Central asked Microsoft for comment, with a spokesperson offering the following response: 

"We’re excited for the launch of Black Myth Wukong on Xbox Series X|S and are working with Game Science to bring the game to our platforms. We can't comment on the deals made by our partners with other platform holders, but we remain focused on making Xbox the best platform for gamers, and great games are at the center of that."

Black Myth: Wukong utterly exploded in sales at launch, reaching over 2 million concurrent players on Steam and selling over 10 million copies across PlayStation 5 and PC.

In our review of Black Myth: Wukong, my colleague Brendan Lowry wrote that "Without a doubt, Black Myth: Wukong is a good game — a very solid ARPG with engaging bosses, fun combat mechanics, immaculate audiovisual presentation, and an enjoyable, well-written narrative. Unfortunately, though, the levels between those encounters, the enemies within them, and a sizable portion of the game's progression system all leave quite a bit to be desired, ultimately holding it back from greatness."

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Samuel Tolbert
Samuel Tolbert
Freelance Writer

Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter @SamuelTolbert.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • fatpunkslim
    If it's true, it's very serious!

    There are several essential questions:

    Why did they sign a secret exclusivity agreement?
    Why did Game Science lie ?
    Is Game Science's lie part of the deal with PlayStation?
    To these questions, we are entitled to ask ourselves if it is not a desire to harm the image of Xbox behind all this?
    Why make people believe that it would be the fault of the S series in this case?
    Why hide the fact that the game is temporary exclusive?
    Is this also to make people believe that it is the fault of the Xbox consoles?

    This is not the first time that PlayStation has been borderline and demonstrated anti-competitive behavior, because that's what it is!

    We can wonder if Playstation has not also signed other secret contracts with the same aim of causing harm on the branding of other consoles.

    At the time of the ABK takeover, We remember the secret agreements to prevent certain games from being on the gamepass, again proof of anti-competitive behavior.

    We could also talk about PS marketing agreements to make casual gamers believe that certain games are exclusive

    I find it very unfortunate for the image of PlayStation which does not come out of this story any better, even if I have not been fooled by their methods for a long time.

    And it's also a shame for Game Science which is playing a very dangerous game. I think that the competition regulators should look a little more into this type of case, because these anti competitive methods are far from isolated.
    Reply
  • Ron-F
    Secrecy could negatively impact Game Science's reputation. It may not appear as a reliable company to do business with.
    Reply