The game is still a long way off. The developers have only announced the start of work on this project. At the moment, they report that the game is in the “almost empty folder” stage. Nevertheless, we are all looking forward to the release of this game, because the previous game, Black Myth: Wukong, caused quite a stir and was enjoyed by a huge number of people. Let’s take a look at what we know about Black Myth: Zhong Kui today.

To see for yourself what to expect, I recommend watching this video:

Announcement & reveal context

Game Science officially revealed Black Myth: Zhong Kui during Gamescom: Opening Night Live on August 19, 2025. The studio framed this as the next step for the Black Myth series following the successful launch of Black Myth: Wukong. The reveal came via a short cinematic teaser rather than a full gameplay showcase.

Trademark & pre-show leaks

Hours before the reveal, press picked up on a trademark filing for “Black Myth: Zhongkui,” which signaled that a follow-up announcement was imminent. That reporting framed it as either an expansion or a standalone game; the Opening Night Live reveal subsequently clarified it as a new single-player entry.

Development status

Game Science’s own messaging around the reveal conveyed that the team is taking a “tentative first step” toward bolder features and fresh ideas in world-building and narrative design, but without concrete mechanics to show yet. In short: expect a long runway before deep dives on systems or release plans.

Premise and hero

As the title suggests, the new game centers on Zhong Kui, a famed figure from Chinese folklore often portrayed as a demon-queller who moves between the realms of the living and the dead. The teaser closes on a striking image of a warrior atop a massive tiger, which outlets identified as Zhong Kui. Host Geoff Keighley summarized the premise on-air as following a “ghost-catching god who wanders between hell and earth.”

Genre and structure

Game Science describes Zhong Kui as a single-player action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology—the same broad genre foundation as Wukong. Multiple outlets repeated this classification immediately after the reveal. There is no indication of multiplayer or live-service elements.

Platforms

The studio announced the project for PC and “major consoles”. Specific platforms (e.g., PS5, Xbox Series) were not individually confirmed in the reveal materials, but coverage consistently refers to consoles and PC as the release targets.

Release timing

There is no release window yet. Reporting around the reveal stresses that the project is at an early stage and “won’t be out for a good long while.” Any specific dates circulating online are unconfirmed.

Teaser trailer details

The debut teaser is deliberately opaque. It depicts two beleaguered men hiding from a pursuer; the camera then reveals Zhong Kui riding a tiger outside. No HUD, combat, or systems were shown—this was a mood-setting cinematic rather than gameplay.

Relationship to Wukong

While Zhong Kui is a new protagonist and storyline, the game is positioned as a follow-up in the Black Myth universe, not DLC for Wukong. Coverage from the reveal emphasized that it’s a standalone title continuing Game Science’s exploration of Chinese myth. Keighley even hinted during the show that the “westward journey” for Wukong itself may continue in the future, suggesting the studio’s broader ambitions for the universe.

Why Zhong Kui? Cultural grounding

Choosing Zhong Kui keeps the franchise anchored in classical Chinese folklore, much like Wukong drew on Journey to the West. Zhong Kui is historically portrayed as a fierce exorcist figure, making him a natural fit for an action RPG centered on spirits, demons, and liminal realms. (This background is well documented in encyclopedic sources, though the game’s exact interpretation remains to be seen.)

What’s not confirmed

• No gameplay systems (combat style, progression, builds, difficulty, etc.) have been shown.
• No story synopsis beyond the thematic framing of Zhong Kui’s role.
• No technical targets (engine upgrades, resolution/frame-rate goals, ray tracing specifics, or platform-exclusive features).
• No release window or pre-order information.

These omissions are expected for a cinematic-only reveal at an early stage.