The 2024 Game Awards ended with Sony’s Astro Bot winning the Game of the Year (GOTY) title, and this has left many fans and developers divided. Feng Ji, CEO of Game Science and producer of Black Myth: Wukong, took to social media to express his feelings.
Wukong is possibly the biggest game of 2024. Image Credit: Game Science
Feng Ji expressed disappointment at Wukong not winning GOTY and claimed to have prepared an acceptance speech two years prior. This in particular has sparked controversy, humor, and critique. It really takes away from the criticism of the criteria of The Game Awards and what truly defines the best game.
Game Science’s CEO makes it hard to feel bad for Black Myth: Wukong‘s loss
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Black Myth: Wukong has been a cultural phenomenon since its release. The game topped the Steam charts with 1.4 million concurrent players on launch day, the highest for any single-player game. Inspired by the Chinese classic Journey to the West, it introduced global audiences to a unique cultural experience.
Black Myth: Wukong shattered sale records, only trailing giants like Call of Duty and GTA.
– 10 million copies sold in 3 days.
– $852 million generated in 2 weeks.
– #2 highest concurrent players on Steam (behind PUBG).China just proved itself in the gaming big leagues. pic.twitter.com/NovRcoy6sY
— Willie Chou (@WillieChou) September 8, 2024
Despite not winning GOTY, the game did not leave empty-handed. The game blends Chinese mythology with action-packed gameplay and has been a big milestone for Chinese-developed games on the global stage. Despite this though, Game Science CEO Feng Ji’s reaction to losing GOTY hasn’t been the best.
In a now-viral post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Feng expressed confusion and dissatisfaction with the selection process for GOTY. His remarks, which included critiques of the GOTY selection criteria, were a mix of disappointment and confusion.
Game Science CEO criticizes #TheGameAwards and says he wrote a Game of the Year acceptance speech for ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ two years ago
“The games nominated this year were all excellent … but I really didn’t understand the criteria for this year’s Game of the Year … felt… pic.twitter.com/bjFhswofmP
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) December 15, 2024
Ji described the project as a seven-year labor of love aimed at pushing the boundaries of storytelling and action in gaming. While some fans empathized with his disappointment, others found his statements arrogant, particularly his admission of writing a GOTY acceptance speech two years prior.
The Game Awards as a whole have been criticized
The controversy also highlights ongoing criticism of the Game Awards’ voting system. With a jury comprised mainly of gaming journalists and media outlets, fans have argued that the process favors mainstream titles and publishers. Sony’s consistent success at the event including Astro Bot’s victory, has fueled allegations of bias.
welcome to the @Sony game awards pic.twitter.com/Clu6Eaun2W
— trader joe (@joetradescrypto) December 13, 2024
Adding to the debate is the cultural divide in how Black Myth: Wukong has been received. While the game was a hit with Chinese audiences, some Western players struggled to connect with its themes and storytelling.
There were also some cases of misinterpretations of Ji’s words. For instance, some fans have clarified that Ji’s “I came here for nothing” remark was meant to reflect confusion over the GOTY criteria rather than bitterness over losing.
For Game Science, the fallout from the GOTY loss provides a moment for reflection. Feng Ji’s words are polarizing but express a sincere desire to create games that resonate with players worldwide, transcending barriers of language and culture.
Despite the disappointment, the studio’s achievements remain significant: Wukong became the first Chinese game to secure major nominations at TGA and garnered widespread acclaim for its bold vision. With potential DLCs and updates on the horizon, the game’s journey is far from over.
Do you think Feng Ji is in the wrong here? Which game did you think would win GOTY? Let us know in the comments!
