The 70 Million Doller Bet: How Feng Ji Made China First AAA Game a Global Phenomenon

The 70 Million Doller Bet: How Feng Ji Made China First AAA Game a Global Phenomenon

Feng Ji’s story is nothing short of legendary. The CEO of Game Science risked everything to create China’s first AAA game from scratch. Many dismissed his effort as an ideological experiment, but Feng saw something others didn’t. Fast forward 6.5 years, and Black Myth: Wukong has become one of the fastest-selling games in history, shattering records and proving that China can play in the big gaming leagues.

Here’s how he did it.

From Gaming Addict to Game Designer

Feng Ji’s journey began in 2005 when he dropped out of grad school to pursue his passion for gaming. He lived in internet cafes, borrowing money to fuel his obsession with World of Warcraft. His skills and dedication to the game eventually landed him a job in game design, where he led the development of Asura at Tencent, a game inspired by the Monkey King legend.

But the corporate environment at Tencent didn’t sit well with Feng. As the company’s focus shifted from creating fun games to maximizing revenue, Feng grew frustrated. Believing that games should always prioritize enjoyment, he left in 2014 with seven colleagues to form Game Science, a small studio dedicated to making games that players would love.

A Rocky Start and a Dream Deferred

The early years of Game Science were anything but easy. The team’s first two mobile games were complete flops, but Feng held onto his dream of creating a single-player masterpiece. He knew the market wasn’t ready yet, but by 2016, data from Steam revealed that a third of its active users were from China, and Chinese gamers were hungry for high-quality experiences. The time had come.

Feng Ji hated the in-app purchases and endless monetization of mobile games. So, he split his studio into two teams: one would continue making mobile games to keep the lights on, while the other, led by Feng, would chase his dream of creating a groundbreaking single-player game.

Betting It All on Black Myth: Wukong

On February 25, 2018, Game Science took a giant leap into AAA development. The team went all in—quitting jobs, selling properties, and going years without income. With the help of Daniel Wu, a loyal friend and investor who bought 20% of Game Science for $8.5 million, they raised a $70 million budget to bring Feng’s vision to life.

Feng Ji’s goal was clear: create a global game rooted in traditional Chinese culture. The team immersed themselves in the classic novel “Journey to the West,” reading it over 100 times and visiting countless cultural sites. They meticulously crafted every detail, from the Monkey King’s armor to the mythical creatures that populate the game.

The Turning Point: A Viral Sensation

By August 2020, the team was on the brink of failure. But then, a 13-minute gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Wukong went viral, racking up 2 million views on YouTube and 25 million on Bilibili. What was meant to be a recruitment video became a global sensation. The studio received over 10,000 job applications, and Tencent even bought a 5% stake in Game Science.

Fast forward to August 20, 2024, and Black Myth: Wukong launched to worldwide acclaim. The game sold 10 million copies in just three days, generated $852 million in two weeks, and became the #2 highest concurrent player game on Steam, trailing only PUBG. It received a 95% positive rating from over 700,000 reviews on Steam and even caught the attention of Elon Musk.

A Cultural Phenomenon and a New Beginning

Black Myth: Wukong didn’t just succeed, it became a cultural phenomenon. The game bridged Chinese mythology with a global audience, inspiring other developers to explore their own cultural stories. It boosted tourism to sites featured in the game by 300% and made Feng Ji a national hero in China.

But Feng remains humble. “When you are at the peak of confidence, you are also staring at the valley of foolishness,” he says, already hard at work on the game’s expansion pack. For Feng Ji, the journey has just begun.

The Future of Chinese Gaming

Feng Ji’s story proves that with vision, determination, and a willingness to take risks, it’s possible to achieve the impossible. Black Myth: Wukong has set a new standard for the global gaming industry, and China has officially arrived as a major player on the world stage.

And for Feng Ji? This is just the beginning.

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