At The Game Awards 2024, one of the moments that stuck with many people in the gaming community was seeing the Black Myth: Wukong team break down after losing Game of the Year (GOTY) to Astro Bot. Alanah Pearce, who used to write for Sony Santa Monica, shared that she saw some developers crying at the ceremony. It was a raw, human moment you don’t usually see at these shows.
Black Myth: Wukong Director’s GOTY Loss Sparks Controversy
The story takes an interesting turn when Game Science CEO and director Feng Ji goes to Weibo to share his thoughts about the loss. Feng Ji shared his mixed feelings about Black Myth: Wukong on his blog about losing Game of the Year. He was proud it was the first Chinese game to get four major nominations but sounded frustrated about the loss. “I came all the way here for nothing!” he wrote, questioning how the winner was chosen, even though he admitted all the nominated games were great.
Feng Ji’s response to fans stood out the most. When addressing their disappointment, he said, “I am even more confident than most of you,” referencing an earlier post he made on Zhihu. However, when he admitted to writing an acceptance speech two years ago, showing his confidence. However, many people felt he seemed too sure that he would win.
His remarks about “giving up illusions” and feeling it’s “normal to be a little angry when you’re so confident but not recognized by others” caught a lot of attention too. Some people see these as honest feelings of disappointment, while others think they show unrealistic expectations for the studio’s first big international game.
Community Reactions Split About Feng Ji’s Weibo Post
The gaming community has been split about this loss, with people talking about it all over social media. Many fans understand the team’s emotions, especially since Black Myth: Wukong is China’s first major AAA international release. They celebrate the game’s achievements and feel that earning two wins at their first Game Awards is an impressive milestone for a new studio.
However, some critics have called Feng Ji’s response arrogant and unprofessional, with many pointing out that Black Myth: Wukong had the lowest rating among the GOTY nominees (82 on OpenCritic, compared to Astro Bot’s 95). Some fans feel the director is acting like the game was completely overlooked, while in fact, it is not. They point out that Black Myth: Wukong was nominated for four awards, and they even won Best Action Game and Players’ Choice. This shows the game was actually well-loved, making the director’s response seem ungrateful to some.
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Gamers are urging Game Science to use this experience to grow and improve future projects. They believe that recognizing the game’s flaws now could help the studio create a stronger GOTY contender next time. Overall, while Black Myth: Wukong is seen as a good game, many feel there’s still room for improvement.
The Bigger Picture for GameScience
Even though Black Myth: Wukong didn’t win Game of the Year, we think its appearance at The Game Awards 2024 was still a very big deal. It got four nominations, a first for a game made in China, and it won two important awards. The game also did well commercially, becoming the second-most played game on Steam right after it launched.
Although the emotional response may have taken the spotlight, the future still seems bright for Game Science. There are rumors about two DLCs in the works, and the game is expected to publish a new franchise. Their reaction might be seen as unprofessional or understandable, but it’s clear that Black Myth: Wukong is just the beginning of Game Science.
