Big video game “Black Meth: Wukong” is tightening “A flurry of economic activity across multiple sectors, creating the so-called “Wukong economy” ranging from tourism to computer peripherals amid weak domestic demand..
The success of the game based on the legendary character” Monkey king“ From the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West”, to increased travel in parts of China, increased demand for better game consoles and increased spending on drinks and luxury services, according to local authorities and businesses..
The game has become an overnight sensation since its release last week, as consumer spending is key to revving the engine of the world’s second largest economy amid weak overseas demand and a declining real estate market, according to the South China Morning Post.
By Monday afternoon, the game, developed by the GameScience-backed startup, had surpassed the “Tenset sold 15.4 million copies, with revenue exceeding $737 million on the Steam video game platform, according to market research firm Video Game Insights.
“Black meth represents a demand magnet at an international level,” said Professor Shi Li from Fudan University’s School of Economics.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Shaanxi Province, which features in the game, released a video last week showcasing world attractions, in response to increased travel as a result of the game.
They also launched a campaign that promised to prepare travel routes with the theme of the game, cultural products and events around it.
The game accurately recreates many masterpieces of Chinese architecture, which has increased interest in historical sites in Shaanxi.
According to data from the Chinese shopping platform Meituan, on August 20, the popularity of tourist spots in Shanxi rose by 156%, and the Yungang Grottoes were among the top destinations of the game.
With external demand declining and the property market collapsing, China has been hoping for a pick-up in consumer spending to shore up the gap.
Retail sales of consumer goods, a measure of household spending, increased just 2.7% from a year ago in July, although they were faster than June’s 2% growth and better than the Bloomberg consensus forecast.
In the first seven months of the year, retail sales rose 3.5% compared to the same period last year.
said Yin Zhenxing, the director of the museumSculpturePolychrome Jade Emperor Temple In Shanxi, promotional activities for the game resulted in visitor numbers reaching a record high of over 50,000 in just six months.
“About 40% of those tourists learned about the place through the game,” Yin said, according to Chinese media network YiCai.
For his part, George Li, a senior engineer and shareholder in a toy company in Shenzhen, said, “Black Meth has become popular because it is the first successful product that combines traditional Chinese culture with engines. global technology.”
He said, “Its incredible sales on global gaming platforms inevitably shows the influence of the so-called ‘soft power’ of China and the role of its cultural product.”
Demand for game consoles and other accessories has also increased, said Li Xiang, a shopkeeper at a computer and electronics market in the southern city of Guangzhou.
