Black Myth: Wukong to receive physical release on PS5 and also launch on Xbox
Niko Partners
The Leader in Asian and MENA Games Market Intelligence. Local experts with a global perspective.
Black Myth: Wukong is set to receive a physical release for PlayStation 5 in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, according to an announcement by Game Science. The physical edition will include a game disc along with a voucher code to access additional content from the Deluxe version. The physical launch is scheduled for later this year, following the initial digital release on August 20, 2024. The game will be distributed by PM Studios and priced at $64.99 in the US. Game Science had previously stated that logistical challenges related to the import, export, transportation, and distribution of physical discs had delayed the simultaneous release of the physical version alongside the digital one. Additionally, the game has been rated by the ESRB for Xbox, suggesting an upcoming launch on that platform, after skipping it at release. No physical edition has been announced for Asia at this time.?
NPPA approves 113 domestic games and 15 import games in October?
The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), mainland China's regulator in charge of game approvals, issued ISBNs for 113 domestic games on October 25, 2024. There has been one batch of domestic games approved each month this year, with a total of 1,072 domestic game licenses issued to date (+36% YoY). This batch included 104 mobile games, 2 PC games, and 7 cross platform games.??
?15 import games were also issued ISBNs on the same day, with a total of 91 import game licenses issued to date (+57% YoY). This batch included 12 mobile games and 3 cross platform games. Notable import games approved included Goddess of Victory: Nikke from South Korean developer ShiftUp (Published by Tencent), Squad Busters from Supercell (Published by Tencent), and Lineage 2 developed by NCSoft (Expected to be published by Tencent).? An additional 3 games were included on the ISBN update list which allows for existing ISBNs to add new platforms, publishers or game names.?
Vietnamese game The Scourge launches on Steam as Early Access?
The Scourge?was launched as an Early Access title on Steam on October 23, purchasable for $9.99 globally and $5.6 VND (142,000) in Vietnam. This indie RPG horror puzzle game was developed by two Vietnamese studios, Rare Reversee and Beaztek Studio, and published globally by Rare Reversee and in China by LICOGAME. The developers opted for Early Access to engage their community in the game's development process. The decision has proven effective, as the game has received highly positive reviews on Steam, with significant feedback from players (mostly Vietnamese) offering praise regarding gameplay and graphics as well as constructive criticism for improvements concerning game optimization. Local game influencers have tried out The Scourge and provided positive feedback, which has positively impacted their audiences' perception of the game. This is noteworthy since previous domestically developed games usually failed either in the early stage or upon release, mostly due to insufficient funding, pirating, or unsatisfactory quality (mainly concerning graphics, gameplay, and narrative). However, Niko Partners notes that Steam is technically restricted in Vietnam, posing challenges for local distribution of the game. The developers and publishers may be leveraging Steam as a platform to enhance the global visibility of The Scourge and promote future quality made-in-Vietnam games.?
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