Black Myth: Wukong, China's first triple-A video game, has faced backlash after early-access streamers were told to avoid discussing 'feminist propaganda', news, politics, Covid-19, and China's game industry. The directive, shared on social media, sparked debate over censorship and sexism allegations.
Released last week, the game sold over 10 million copies in three days. Based on the classic novel Journey to the West, it has been praised by Chinese authorities as a cultural success. However, the list of banned topics for influencers has drawn criticism.
The directive followed reports of sexist behaviour by staff at developer Game Science, notably from IGN in November. Some streamers noted such restrictions are common, but the 'feminist propaganda' clause was unusual. The list was not legally enforceable, according to Rolling Stone.
Chinese state media accused Western outlets of politicising the game, with the Global Times claiming 'anti-China forces' were attacking it. The BBC reported on the controversy without detailing the accusations.
