Company:Game Science

From HandWiki
Game Science
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded13 June 2014; 12 years ago (2014-06-13)
FoundersFeng Ji
Yang Qi
HeadquartersShenzhen, China
Key people
Feng Ji (CEO)
ProductsSoftware:Black Myth: Wukong
OwnerTencent (24%)
Websitegamesci.cn
Game Science
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Game Science is a Chinese video game development and publishing company founded by Feng Ji and Yang Qi in 2014. The studio is headquartered in Shenzhen and has an additional office in Hangzhou.

Game Science develops action role-playing games and operates a merchandise brand. It is best known for developing the video game Software:Black Myth: Wukong (2024), which has expanded into the Black Myth series. During the early years, it developed mobile games.

History

Formation and early period (2014–2017)

Game Science was founded on 13 June 2014.[1] Feng Ji and Yang Qi are the founders of the company.[2] The seven founding members previously worked as developers on the massively multiplayer online game Asura at Tencent.[3]

Feng Ji serves as the chief executive officer of Game Science.[2]

At the time of Game Science's establishment, China's mobile games market was greatly expanding, so the studio pivoted toward mobile development to stay afloat.[3] The mobile game 100 Heroes was developed by the studio and published by NetEase.[3] It was presented during the NetEase 520 Conference in 2015.[3] After its release, it attracted 500 thousand players in the first month and nearly 800 thousand players in the first year.[3] Yang Qi proposed a single-player game as the studio's next project, but the idea was shelved due to the high costs and risks involved for a newly established studio.[3] Instead, the mobile game Art of War: Red Tides was developed by studio.[3] In 2019, it was acquired by the video game company Chaoxi Guangnian, a ByteDance subsidiary.[4] During these early years, Lilith Games CEO Wang Xiwen introduced Game Science CEO Feng Ji (both were previously Tencent colleagues) and Hero Games CEO Daniel Wu to each other.[3] The early connection led to Hero Games investing in Game Science.[3]

From the outset, Game Science embraced a vision of creating games that personally move and resonate with its developers—a philosophy highlighted on the studio's official website.[3] In a 2025 speech at the Black Myth: Wukong Art Exhibition in the CAA Art Museum, Feng Ji reaffirmed this as a core value of the studio.[5] He said that projects advance most effectively when game developers, as players themselves, have a deep understanding of both the work and its audience, but underscored that developers ultimately only represent themselves and must therefore continuously experiment to find the intersection between themselves and players.[5]

The studio's philosophy also reflects ideas expressed in Feng Ji's 2007 article Who Murdered Our Games? (谁谋杀了我们的游戏).[6] This writing offers a critique of the industry from the perspective of a game planner, arguing that many games fail before they even leave the development stage, these failures occur when development teams lack excitement for the games they are creating, the industry has fostered a mentality where players are treated like livestock in the pursuit for engagement and profit, and the industry has a dark side characterized by capital-driven practices that alienate players and degrade their experiences.[7] In a 2024 interview with China Central Television, Feng Ji elaborated that game developers should focus on gameplay and storytelling to captivate players but must remain cautious of capital-driven practices that are harmful, emphasizing that a reasonable standard is whether you would recommend a game that you made to your children, friends, and relatives with peace of mind.[8]

Black Myth: Wukong (2018–present)

After the mobile games 100 Heroes and Art of War: Red Tides, Game Science started the development of Software:Black Myth: Wukong in 2018.[9] According to operations director Lan Weiyi, the shift toward AAA development came after the realization that Steam had more users from China than from the United States, indicating that China's premium games market was undergoing a transformation.[9] Before the development of the game began, the studio conducted a company-wide survey that revealed that action role-playing games had the longest playtimes on Steam among the staff, which guided both the studio's broader focus and the Black Myth project's direction toward the genre.[10] Feng Ji said that this approach would enable everyone to better understand and empathize with players, since they themselves would be players of the types of games they were creating.[10] Game Science decided to maintain teams for both mobile and single-player games.[11] However, as the development cycles between the two kinds of games are very different, Feng Ji and Yang Qi sought a new environment appropriate for a team that worked on single-player games.[10] Ultimately, the Black Myth development team moved from Shenzhen to Hangzhou due to its "slower pace and lower living costs".[12]

In August 2020, Game Science released the first trailer of Software:Black Myth: Wukong as a way to recruit more talent for the company.[13] At the time, the game's development team had about 30 members.[13] Due to the trailer going viral, Game Science received over 10,000 resumes from domestic and foreign candidates.[13] By the time of release, the team had grown to 140 members, as listed in the game's credits.[12]

Hero Games acquired a 19% stake in Game Science through its wholly owned subsidiary Tianjin Hero Financial Holding Technology in 2017, but sold its shares in the studio in 2022 with payment partly outstanding as of 2024.[12] As reported in 2021, Tencent obtained a 5% stake in the studio.[14][15] The company aimed to help the studio on some projects, but committed to not interfering with the operation and decision-making of the studio.[14][15] As reported in 2026, Tencent's registered stake in the studio rose from 5% to 24%, following the company's acquisition of Hero Games' shares in the studio as early as 2022.[16] As a result, Tencent became the sole external investor in the studio.[16]

In 2023, IGN released a report that alleged a history of sexism within the company, citing screenshots of personal posts by company figures in Chinese social media and suggestive hiring posters from 2015 as examples.[17] Chinese-language outlets HK01, an online news portal, and GameLook, a game-industry research website, criticized IGN's report, arguing that the article uses examples taken out of context and vulgar but not sexist.[18][19] HK01 and Gamebase reported that the relevant posts had been mistranslated.[19][20] HK01 also reported that the criticism by anonymous commentators quoted in the article cannot be verified.[19] Game Science declined to address questions about the allegations.[21][22][23] On social media, Khee Hoon Chan, a co-author of the IGN article, called for online piracy and made explicit comments toward Game Science.[24][25][26] Hero Games' Dino Ying commented that Game Science tries not to get into distractions.[27]

Black Myth: Wukong was released in August 2024 and sold 20 million units in its first month.[28] It was one of the fastest-selling games of all time.[29]

In 2024, Game Science and the electric automobile maker BYD Company formed a strategic partnership to digitize China's national treasures and landmarks, aiming to support their protection and provide a scientific foundation for future restoration work.[30][31] This involved 3D scanning in Shanxi, which was prominently featured in Black Myth: Wukong, and other provinces in China.[30][31]

Games and products

Game Science has made several video games.

Year English Chinese Pinyin
2015 100 Heroes 百將行 Bǎi Jiāng Xíng
2016 Art of War: Red Tides 战争艺术：赤潮 Zhànzhēng Yìshù: Chìcháo
2024 Software:Black Myth: Wukong 黑神话：悟空 Hēishénhuà: Wùkōng
TBA Software:Black Myth: Zhong Kui 黑神话：钟馗 Hēishénhuà: Zhōng Kuí

In January 2025, Game Science released a Chinese New Year short film announcing its official merchandise brand BLACKMYTH.[32][33][34] The studio conceived it as a gamer lifestyle brand with products related to Black Myth: Wukong and other content over time.[33][34] A dedicated team, separate from the game developers, was formed to handle the design, production, and operation of the brand.[33][34] The brand initially built a store presence on online platforms.[35] The first BLACKMYTH brick-and-mortar store was openend in Hangzhou in September 2025.[36] The store location occasionally hosts events in collaboration with other institutions, such as the Guizhou Nuo Culture Museum.[37]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Game Science". https://www.gematsu.com/companies/game-science. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Congratulations to the 28th Annual #DICEAwards Finalists". https://www.interactive.org/awards/84Kd_28th_annual_dice_awards_finalists_revealed_8ufL.asp. 
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 "《黑神话：悟空》幕后丨游戏科学十年：直面天命，终抵灵山" (in zh). 22 August 2024. Archived from the original on 16 December 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241216054509/https://youxiputao.com/article/26728. 
  4. ↑ "触乐夜话：听了一期播客" (in zh). 22 December 2023. https://www.chuapp.com/?c=Article&a=index&id=289710. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 游戏葡萄. Reproduced in "我在《黑神话：悟空》艺术展，被冯骥和杨奇震撼到了" (in zh). 10 April 2025. https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20250410A0A7KV00. 
  6. ↑ "《黑神话：悟空》，靠什么让中外玩家争当"天命人"？" (in zh). 29 August 2024. https://www.yicai.com/news/102251748.html. 
  7. ↑ "《黑神话：悟空》制作人冯骥2007年旧文：谁谋杀了我们的游戏" (in zh). 20 August 2024. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5OTc2ODUxMw==&mid=2649942027&idx=2&sn=4547ccb71c3b1a094c9fb4c30d992088.  Cited in "《黑神话：悟空》幕后丨游戏科学十年：直面天命，终抵灵山" (in zh). 22 August 2024. Archived from the original on 16 December 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241216054509/https://youxiputao.com/article/26728. 
  8. ↑ ""要做能让自己孩子放心玩的游戏！"总台专访《黑神话》制作人冯骥" (in zh). 15 October 2024. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MTI0MDU3NDYwMQ%3D%3D&mid=2657700411&idx=1&sn=50f7cce0e90571b92fd2819614c0e907.  Cited in "央视又又又请"悟空亮剑"，冯骥：中国人讲的故事，就是中国故事！" (in zh). 16 October 2024. http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2024/10/555963/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ye, Josh (21 August 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong martial arts title in race to become China's first AAA game". https://www.scmp.com/tech/gear/article/3098309/black-myth-wukong-martial-arts-title-race-become-chinas-first-aaa-game. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "缔造黑神话——独家专访《黑神话：悟空》制作团队" (in zh). 23 August 2024. https://www.infzm.com/contents/277684.  Reproduced in "缔造黑神话——独家专访《黑神话：悟空》制作团队" (in zh). 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241219125835/https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20240823A0AFY100. 
  11. ↑ "如今我风华正茂：游戏科学是如何制造《黑神话：悟空》的 - 触乐". 21 August 2020. https://www.chuapp.com/article/287425.html. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Cao, Ann; Le, Kelly (2024-08-22). "Black Myth: Wukong's popularity brings unexpected windfall, fame to low-profile developer". https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3275526/black-myth-wukongs-popularity-brings-unexpected-windfall-fame-low-profile-developer.  Reproduced in "Black Myth: Wukong's popularity brings unexpected windfall, fame to low-profile developer". 22 August 2024. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/black-myth-wukongs-popularity-brings-093000037.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Young, Charles (11 September 2020). "Black Myth: Wukong - The World Exclusive Story Behind the Breakout Action-RPG". https://www.ign.com/articles/black-myth-wukong-making-of-behind-the-scenes-exclusive. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jia, Liu (30 March 2021). "[Exclusive Tencent Lifts Stake in Indie Studio Game Science to Draw Closer, Source Says"]. https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/exclusive-china-tencent-boosts-stake-in-indie-studio-game-science-for-cooperation-. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Zhang, Zacky (29 March 2021). "腾讯投资《黑神话：悟空》开发商" (in zh). https://www.ign.com.cn/blackmythwukong/32034/news/teng-xun-tou-zi-hei-shen-hua-wu-kong-kai-fa-shang. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "腾讯增持《黑神话》系列开发商游戏科学股份！天使投资方退出". 1 May 2026. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202605/2133986.shtml. 
  17. ↑ Valentine, Rebekah; Chan, Khee Hoon (20 November 2023). "How Black Myth: Wukong Developer's History of Sexism Is Complicating its Journey to the West". https://www.ign.com/articles/how-black-myth-wukong-developers-history-of-sexism-is-complicating-its-journey-to-the-west. 
  18. ↑ "《黑神话：悟空》被外媒锤了，仗义执言还是别有用心？" (in Chinese). 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240827000841/http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2023/11/532365. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 林卓恆 (17 June 2024). "傳黑神話悟空遭政確團體逼害小島秀夫都中槍｜因拒交5500萬顧問費" (in zh). Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240823010436/https://www.hk01.com/%E9%81%8A%E6%88%B2%E5%8B%95%E6%BC%AB/1029496/%E5%82%B3%E9%BB%91%E7%A5%9E%E8%A9%B1%E6%82%9F%E7%A9%BA%E9%81%AD%E6%94%BF%E7%A2%BA%E5%9C%98%E9%AB%94%E9%80%BC%E5%AE%B3%E5%B0%8F%E5%B3%B6%E7%A7%80%E5%A4%AB%E9%83%BD%E4%B8%AD%E6%A7%8D-%E5%9B%A0%E6%8B%92%E4%BA%A45500%E8%90%AC%E9%A1%A7%E5%95%8F%E8%B2%BB.  Screenshot captured from the original on 9 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "IGN持續追討《黑神話：悟空》開發團隊，要求遊戲科學對性別歧視做出回應" (in zh). Softstar. 17 June 2024. https://news.gamebase.com.tw/news/detail/99424392. 
  21. ↑ Regan, Tom (2024-07-25), "Black Myth: Wukong – the summer's most exciting, and most controversial, video game", The Guardian, ISSN 0261-3077, https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/25/black-myth-wukong-the-summers-most-exciting-and-most-controversial-video-game 
  22. ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (17 June 2024). "About Our Report From Last Year". https://www.ign.com/articles/black-myth-wukong-hands-on-with-an-impressive-first-2-hours. 
  23. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (20 August 2024). "We asked Black Myth: Wukong's developer about the controversy over its founders' past sexist remarks, but Game Science's only reply was 'No comment'". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/black-myth-wukong-sexism-controversy-interview-no-comment/. 
  24. ↑ "IGN撰稿人稱《黑神話:悟空》「要玩就玩盜版」，曾寫文批評遊戲科學性別歧視" (in zh). 27 August 2024. https://tw.news.yahoo.com/ign%E6%92%B0%E7%A8%BF%E4%BA%BA%E7%A8%B1%E3%80%8A%E9%BB%91%E7%A5%9E%E8%A9%B1%E6%82%9F%E7%A9%BA%E3%80%8B%E3%80%8C%E8%A6%81%E7%8E%A9%E5%B0%B1%E7%8E%A9%E7%9B%9C%E7%89%88%E3%80%8D%EF%BC%8C%E6%9B%BE%E5%AF%AB%E6%96%87%E6%89%B9%E8%A9%95%E9%81%8A%E6%88%B2%E7%A7%91%E5%AD%B8%E6%80%A7%E5%88%A5%E6%AD%A7%E8%A6%96-035618915.html. 
  25. ↑ "IGN撰稿人呼籲抵制《黑神話：悟空》 疑對性別歧視調查無效不滿" (in zh). 2024-08-28. https://www.litenews.hk/news/15940-ign%E6%92%B0%E7%A8%BF%E4%BA%BA%E5%91%BC%E7%B1%B2%E6%8A%B5%E5%88%B6%E3%80%8A%E9%BB%91%E7%A5%9E%E8%A9%B1%EF%BC%9A%E6%82%9F%E7%A9%BA%E3%80%8B-%E7%96%91%E5%B0%8D%E6%80%A7%E5%88%A5%E6%AD%A7%E8%A6%96%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%A5%E7%84%A1%E6%95%88%E4%B8%8D%E6%BB%BF. 
  26. ↑ "黑神話:悟空｜IGN作者呼籲網民玩翻版｜疑不滿遊戲性別歧視仍大賣｜科技玩物" (in zh). 26 August 2024. https://www.hk01.com/%E6%95%B8%E7%A2%BC%E7%94%9F%E6%B4%BB/1051305/%E9%BB%91%E7%A5%9E%E8%A9%B1-%E6%82%9F%E7%A9%BA-ign%E4%BD%9C%E8%80%85%E5%91%BC%E7%B1%B2%E7%B6%B2%E6%B0%91%E7%8E%A9%E7%BF%BB%E7%89%88-%E7%96%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%BB%BF%E9%81%8A%E6%88%B2%E6%80%A7%E5%88%A5%E6%AD%A7%E8%A6%96%E4%BB%8D%E5%A4%A7%E8%B3%A3.  Screenshot captured from the original on 9 July 2025.
  27. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (3 December 2024). "Dino Ying stayed the course on esports and Black Myth: Wukong | interview". https://venturebeat.com/games/dino-ying-stayed-the-course-on-esports-and-black-myth-wukong-interview/. 
  28. ↑ Bonelli, John (26 September 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong Passes Yet Another Impressive Sales Milestone". https://gamerant.com/black-myth-wukong-sales-milestone-20-million/. 
  29. ↑ Kaser, Rachel (23 August 2024). "Black Myth: Wukong is one of the fastest-selling games of all time". https://venturebeat.com/games/black-myth-wukong-is-one-of-the-fastest-selling-games-of-all-time/. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "比亚迪与《黑神话：悟空》达成全球战略合作 携手书写中国神话" (in zh). 21 October 2024. https://www.21jingji.com/article/20241021/herald/bebc2c61f723c3f86a999ef63239b852.html. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "助力古迹资产保护，比亚迪与《黑神话：悟空》达成全球战略合作" (in zh). 2024-10-20. https://www.guancha.cn/qiche/2024_10_20_752425.shtml. 
  32. ↑ ""黑神话"被写进政府工作报告！但它还带来了另一个"惊喜"" (in zh). 17 January 2025. http://www.gamethk.com/news/detail/19124/1.html. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 "黑神话衍生品牌是游科100%自主出品！原创设计曝光" (in zh). 15 January 2025. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202501/1871555.shtml. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 "游戏科学卖货？公布衍生品牌"黑神话BLACKMYTH"，贺岁片暗示DLC" (in zh). 16 January 2025. http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2025/01/562631. 
  35. ↑ "《黑神话》全国首家线下店落地杭州 9月25日开放体验" (in zh). 22 September 2025. https://www.ali213.net/news/html/2025-9/963695.html. 
  36. ↑ "新鲜玩意不少且有惊喜限定！《黑神话》官方回应线下店开业" (in zh). 25 September 2025. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202509/2019725.shtml. 
  37. ↑ "《黑神话》官宣线下大活动！日展夜演太绝了". 21 April 2026. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202604/2128037.shtml. 



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