Although it may seem unsettling, a video game may determine the world’s prospect of global systems dominance.
Black Myth: Wukong, China’s latest blockbuster, is n’t just breaking gaming documents – it could be driving a critical change in the global balance of technological power. What seems like just another action-packed movie game is, in fact, a critical element in Beijing’s larger strategy to challenge American dominance in the tech industry.
The sport, released by Chinese firm Game Science on Aug. 19, 2024, is based on the famous 16th century Foreign book” Journey to the West“. The book tells the story of a friar, Xuanzang, who journeys to India in search of Buddhist artifacts. Sun Wukong, a monkey, fights several monsters and spirits to protect the priest.
Black Myth: Wukong has captivated million with its beautiful photos and storytelling. It rapidly gained widespread praise and attention for its technical sophistication and creative fidelity, and it quickly became a cultural feeling in China and abroad.
As global politics researchers, we see that the show’s success goes beyond the number of downloading or accolades. It’s what this victory is driving within China’s tech industry that has far-reaching effects.
Video game and global energy
China has been playing catch-up in the software market for years, especially in the production of electronics, the little computers that power whatever from cellphones to advanced artificial intelligence systems. By limiting China’s entry to the most cutting-edge chip-making systems, the United States has maintained its position of power in this area.
China has switched from its hostile “wolf warrior” politics to a more collaborative one by 2024 in order to reestablish worldwide ties. Additionally, the government has mandated that businesses like Huawei develop home cards. However, China’s ability to promote silicon development and production through these methods has been limited.
Video game have generally had a significant impact on the silicon industry’s ability to innovate technologically. Gambling has often encouraged chipmakers to create faster, more effective computers and graphics processing products, or GPUs, from the beginning of the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System to the contemporary PlayStation 5. High proposals, faster body rates, and real-time rendering are the main interactive requirements of contemporary games, which necessitate the most cutting-edge semiconductor technology. The requirements of the gaming industry directly influenced the development of sophisticated GPUs by companies like NVIDIA.
Gamers require advanced computers to enjoy Black Myth: Wukong’s high-end visible and game experience. Built using the state-of-the-art False Engine 5 video game development device, the sport is a physical spectacle featuring vivid graphics, smooth open-world environments and intricate combat systems. PlayStation 5 and PCs can be purchased with the game, and Game Science intends to launch an Xbox edition.
As Black Myth: Wukong reaches all game platforms, it not only puts stress on China’s silicon companies to produce better chips, but it also reveals the enormous industry possible for high-performance technology, specifically for gambling PCs with strong GPUs. The success of the game demonstrates how high the demand is.
According to market analysts, the Chinese video game industry will generate US$ 66.1 billion in 2024, compared to$$ 78.01 billion in the United States.
China’s gaming industry has surged into a global powerhouse, yet it remains dependent on foreign-made chips. Coupled with the West’s restrictions on chip exports, Wukong has become a key catalyst for China’s semiconductor development, and domestic companies now face growing pressure to innovate.
This pressure aligns with Beijing’s broader technological ambitions. The government’s” Made in China 2025” plan calls for technological self-reliance, particularly in sectors like semiconductors, where China lags behind. And advanced GPUs have n’t been confined to the entertainment industry. They have become a part of advances in AI, including autonomous systems and deep learning.
Flexing China’s cultural muscle
While it might seem strange to link video games with geopolitics, Black Myth: Wukong is more than just entertainment. It’s a tool in China’s soft power arsenal. Soft power is the production of cultural exports that influence other countries. For decades, the West, particularly the US, dominated global culture through Hollywood, music and video games.
Now, China is flexing its cultural muscle. The success of Black Myth: Wukong abroad, where it has been hailed as a game-changing title, is part of Beijing’s strategy to export its culture and technological prowess. Through a highly developed digital medium, millions of gamers around the world are now able to experience Chinese mythology, art, and storytelling.
But Black Myth: Wukong is n’t just a cultural triumph for China, it’s a warning shot. The nation is leveraging the country’s expanding gaming sector to advance advances in a field that will shape the development of technology. This game not only exports Chinese culture, but it also strengthens its tech base by boosting the demand for domestic semiconductors.
While Black Myth: Wukong entertains millions, it also shows China’s growing influence in the digital realm. We might look back on Black Myth: Wukong as a positive example of a video game that helped China close the technological divide with the West in the future. Beijing is playing a long game, and Black Myth: Wukong video games are emerging as potent weapons.
Jun Xiang is an economics and global affairs professor at Rutgers University – Newark, while Shaoyu Yuan is a dean’s fellow.
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.