On October 20th, BYD announced a global strategic partnership with Black Myth: Wukong, becoming the game’s exclusive automotive brand partner. Black Myth: Wukong, hailed as China’s first AAA game, achieved remarkable success, surpassing one million sales within its first hour of release. In just three days, global sales exceeded 10 million, with over 3 million concurrent players across all platforms, elevating it to the ranks of the world’s top single-player games.
Globally, BYD has become the world’s top seller of new energy vehicles (NEVs), with its presence in over 95 countries and regions and more than 400 cities. Through continuous technological advancements and product innovations, BYD has positioned itself as a pioneer in the NEV industry.
BYD and Black Myth: Wukong share a common path of perseverance, both excelling in their respective industries after years of dedication. BYD and China’s gaming industry have both evolved from modest beginnings to become industry leaders, thanks to their commitment to technological progress.
With over six years of development, Black Myth: Wukong utilizes the cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5, achieving world-class standards in graphics and gameplay. The game has been well-received globally, marking a significant breakthrough for China’s AAA gaming market.
BYD’s commitment to technological innovation is evident in its extensive R&D investments. According to its 2024 financial report, BYD invested RMB 20.2 billion (approximately $2.85 billion USD), marking a 42% year-on-year increase and setting a new record. This investment surpasses its net profit by RMB 6.6 billion ($0.93 billion USD). In the same period, BYD ranked first among more than 5,300 A-share listed companies in R&D expenditure. The company’s innovations, such as DM technology, the Blade Battery, e-Platform 3.0, and the e4 platform, have revolutionized the NEV market, addressing key consumer needs.
Black Myth: Wukong has also ignited a tourism boom, as the game’s development team spent four years scanning over 100 famous landmarks across China to enhance realism. The game has drawn global attention to Chinese mythology and the “Journey to the West” story, highlighting China’s rich cultural heritage.
In promoting Chinese culture, BYD stands out as the only automaker to name its vehicles after Chinese dynasties, such as the Xia, Qin, Han, Tang, and Song. The company also incorporates traditional elements in its technology names and draws inspiration from Oracle Bone Script for its premium brand logo, YANGWANG. BYD has initiated several cultural preservation projects, including the Dragon Boat to the Olympics and the BYD National Treasure Protection Program.
As part of their strategic collaboration, BYD and Game Science, the developer of Black Myth: Wukong, will partner on the “Protection of Chinese Relics and National Treasures” initiative. BYD and Game Science will work together to digitally preserve historical landmarks for future restoration efforts. In 2024, they will begin in Shanxi, a province in northwest China with a history spanning over 5,000 years and featured prominently in the game. They will collaborate with local museums to conduct digital scans of national treasures, with plans to expand the project to other provinces in support of cultural preservation.
Through this collaboration, BYD and Black Myth: Wukong are not only promoting Chinese heritage but also leading the way in integrating technology with cultural preservation.
