You know, it’s pretty fascinating how a single game can change the entire industry. Imagine stirring your favorite soup and suddenly realizing you have just made a feast! That’s pretty much what happened with China’s gaming sector this year, as Black Myth: Wukong has captured players’ attention and propelled the whole market to record heights.
Recent reports indicate that China enjoyed a staggering revenue boost in the games industry, hitting around $44.8 billion in 2024, a notable increase of over 7.5% from last year. This positions China as the second-largest video games market globally, behind our friends in the U.S.
Much of this impressive growth can be linked to Black Myth: Wukong, touted as China’s first AAA game. Released in August 2024, it set astonishing sales records and remains a hot topic among gamers today.
This year’s increase isn’t the highest we’ve seen recently (that honor goes to last year’s post-COVID surge of 14%), but it still paints a rosy picture for China’s gaming scene. The general value is significantly higher, which is always nice when you look at your bank account after payday!
According to information released by the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, there are encouraging signs everywhere:
The scale of the domestic market has been steadily increasing, with new mobile titles and single-player titles making outstanding contributions.
It appears that mobile gaming reigns supreme here! The latest data reveals that nearly three-quarters of revenue through 2024 came from mobile games. While Black Myth: Wukong might have dazzled local and international audiences, let’s not forget who wears the crown: those addictive mobile titles!
And if that wasn’t enough to excite you, there’s more good news: China’s active gamer population has swelled this year, too! A whopping 670 million individuals are now exploring video games across various platforms.