In a gaming world where AAA games regularly come with eye-watering budgets, Black Myth: Wukong stands out for its surprisingly modest development cost. According to data from the Hangzhou Taxation Bureau the total budget for this well-received action RPG was just over 300 million Yuan — or around $43 million. This development cost is shockingly low compared to many modern AAA games, which often exceed the $100 million mark.

Let’s take other singleplayer games as an example, since apparently, live-service games are in a different multimillion, ‘AAAA’ ballpark altogether. Cyberpunk 2077 reportedly cost over $174 million to develop, while God of War: Ragnarok was estimated at around $200 million. Then FromSoftware’s Elden Ring, which is mostly played solo but has online components, was estimated to have cost the company $200 million as well. We haven’t even touched the marketing cost for those worldwide blockbusters.

Despite these financial behemoths, Black Myth: Wukong has generated substantial buzz. All thanks to its stunning graphics and smooth, yet familiar action gameplay. Our review called it a ‘beautiful and incredibly approachable’ game that sits neatly between Soulslike ‘peanut butter’ and action-romp ‘jelly sandwich.’

“We estimated that the total development cost of Black Myth: Wukong was more than 300 million Yuan,” said Game Science’s financial representative. Also known as Hangzhou Youke Interactive Technology Co., Ltd., the quote was translated using Google Translate and DeepL.

The development budget for Black Myth: Wukong was shared after the China 3rd Global Digital Trade Expo in late September ended. The game’s developer praised the local taxation bureau for its role in helping manage the financial side of development.

“To help the company enjoy tax benefits in a timely and correct manner, the Hangzhou Taxation Bureau established a long-term communication mechanism with us,” said the representative.

They also emphasized the guidance provided on ‘high-tech enterprise status declaration’ and standardization of ‘tracking research and development expenses.’ Those are likely contributed to keeping Black Myth: Wukong‘s budget and development cost under control.

Of course, we have to take notes about the different standards of living between China, the United States, and other countries. The cost of living and average wages in China are typically lower than US and Europe. This difference in economic conditions means that equivalent projects in the US could easily surpass that budget due to higher labor costs and other overheads.

But while the financial side might surprise many, it’s also worth keeping an eye on the game’s future. Rumors are swirling about upcoming DLC set to drop in early 2025. With Black Myth: Wukong already performing well on such a conservative cost and budget, the prospect of a post-launch expansion only adds to the excitement. It remains to be seen whether Game Science can continue to defy expectations. But so far, they’ve proven that bigger isn’t always better — at least when it comes to spending.