From convenient controversies to mistranslated statements: Black Myth: Wukong’s journey through The Game Awards 2024 raises questions.

Isn’t it fascinating how skeletons have a way of crawling out of their closets at the most convenient times? Just as Black Myth: Wukong was poised to make history as the first Chinese game to potentially claim Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024, some very old bones started rattling.

Suddenly, three-year-old allegations against Game Science were front-page news across the Western media.

Everything’s fair in love and game awards. | Image Credit: Game Science

The timing was about as subtle as a boss fight in Dark Souls—which is to say, not subtle at all. Here was a game that had shattered every conceivable record, won hearts across continents, and redefined what Eastern game development could achieve. Yet somehow, certain publications thought August 2024 was the perfect time to dust off screenshots from 2021.

And here’s where it gets really interesting: many of these same publications later showed up as judges for The Game Awards. Talk about wearing multiple hats—or should we say, multiple masks?

The curious case of conveniently timed controversies

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The resurrection of these allegations in August 2024 wasn’t just suspicious—it was practically choreographed. After years of silence, Western media outlets suddenly developed an intense interest in Game Science’s workplace culture, just as Black Myth: Wukong was cementing its place as a serious GOTY contender.

These weren’t breaking news stories or fresh revelations. They were carefully curated screenshots and social media posts that had been circulating on Chinese platforms since 2021. Yet somehow, they became urgent, front-page news right when the game was gathering momentum for awards season.

What’s particularly telling is how these publications framed their coverage. Rather than acknowledging from the get-go, the dated nature of these allegations or the cultural context behind them, they presented them as shocking new revelations that demanded immediate attention. It’s amazing how controversy can age like fine wine when there’s an agenda to push.

The strategy was clear: death by a thousand paper cuts. Each article, each “revelation,” each carefully timed exposé chipped away at the game’s reputation, creating a cloud of controversy that would hang over any GOTY discussions.

A pattern of selective outrage

This isn’t just about one game or one awards show. | Image Credit: Game Science

If this were an isolated incident, we might chalk it up to unfortunate timing. But when you look at the broader pattern, something more systematic emerges. The same publications that maintained radio silence during similar controversies at Western studios suddenly found their moral compass when it came to a Chinese developer.

More damning still is the conflict of interest at play. Publications that spent months building a case against Game Science later sat in judgment at The Game Awards, their previous coverage undoubtedly coloring their votes. It’s like having someone write your performance review after spending months compiling a dossier of your past mistakes.

The double standard becomes even more apparent in the aftermath of The Game Awards. When Game Science CEO Feng Ji shared his thoughts on Weibo, Western media outlets rushed to machine-translate his seven-part statement, cherry-picking lines like “I came all the way here for nothing” without providing proper context or cultural understanding.

What these hasty translations conveniently ignored was the full message—one that expressed gratitude for winning Best Action Game and Players’ Voice awards, acknowledged the excellence of all nominated games, and ended with an optimistic note about the future of Chinese game development.

But perhaps that narrative didn’t fit the same agenda that spawned those conveniently timed August exposés. After all, it’s harder to paint someone as arrogant and entitled when you include their words about dignity, confidence, and making great games regardless of awards.

Black Myth: Wukong may not have won Game of the Year, but with over 10 million copies sold and record-breaking player counts to this day, it’s clear whose opinion really matters—the players themselves.

What do you think about this situation? Is it all just a series of unfortunate coincidences, or is there something more systematic at play? Share your thoughts in the comments below!