Everything we know about Black Myth: Wukong

Here’s everything we know about this Journey to the West-inspired Soulslike

Image credit:Game Science

If you want the full run-down on all the details behind this extravagant Soulslike , you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into everything we know so far about Black Myth: Wukong, from the expected release date to story details to a brief rundown of the controversy embroiling it.

In this guide:

• Black Myth: Wukong expected release date
• Black Myth: Wukong platforms
• Black Myth: Wukong trailers
• Black Myth: Wukong story details
• Black Myth: Wukong gameplay
• Black Myth: Wukong controversy

Black Myth: Wukong expected release date

Black Myth: Wukong is expected to release on August 20, 2024. The game’s release window was first announced last year in a cute stop-motion video pointing out that Black Myth: Wukong would release in the Year of the Dragon, often considered an auspicious year in the Chinese Zodiac. The exact release date was confirmed at the tail end of 2023.

Black Myth: Wukong platforms

Black Myth: Wukong will launch on PC via Steam and the Epic Store . It will also be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Black Myth: Wukong trailers

Black Myth: Wukong debuted in 2020 with a 13-minute gameplay trailer that hit the internet out of nowhere and instantly drew eyes for its polished appearance, despite the fact that the footage was recorded from a pre-alpha game build.

Since then, multiple trailers of similar length have appeared to promote the game. One of the most visually stunning is a 12-minute Unreal Engine 5 gameplay test released in mid-2021.

The most recent Black Myth: Wukong trailer, which hit YouTube on December 8, 2023, is shorter, clocking in at only three minutes and sixteen seconds. Nevertheless, this trailer revealed the game’s final release date and featured English voice acting for the first time.

Black Myth: Wukong story details

Much of Black Myth: Wukong’s story remains under tight wraps, but several hints can be gathered from the source material that inspired the game.

Journey to the West was published in the late 1500s in China’s Ming dynasty and attributed to writer Wu Cheng’en. The novel tells the tale of a Buddhist monk named Tang Sanzang who travels from China to India to obtain religious texts. Along the way, he recruits a number of disciples - chief among which is Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Originally trapped under a mountain by Buddha for his mischievous doings, Sun Wukong grows during his time as Tang Sanzang’s bodyguard, eventually reaching true enlightenment and becoming a god-like figure who exhibits incredible powers, including super strength and the ability to manifest clones of himself.

To those unfamiliar with Chinese mythology, Sun Wukong is the inspiration behind Son Goku of the Dragonball franchise, which originally began as a loose adaptation of Journey to the West. In the world of video games, Wukong is also known for his appearances in various MOBAs, including League of Legends , DOTA 2, and Smite . While there have been singleplayer games starring the Monkey King in the past, such as Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong marks the first time that players will be able to control this superheroic simian in a big-budget AAA Soulslike intended for both Chinese and international audiences.

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/The-True-Wukong.jpg?width=2048&height=2048&fit=bounds&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“A screenshot showing the “true” Wukong, adorned in armour quite different from the player character in Black Myth: Wukong. - 6”>

Image credit:Game Science

That said, the monkey protagonist featured in Black Myth: Wukong may not be the legendary Sun Wukong himself. There are a number of clues that point to this, including the title of the game, which hints at a darker, “black” rendition of a well-known story. The official Black Myth: Wukong website also states the following:

“The story of Wukong tells more than Wukong himself. The monkey is the leading role for sure, but he still is a small part of the whole vivid world. There are plenty of intriguing characters and thought-provoking dialogues in Journey to the West, not to mention the darkness veiled. We applaud when Wukong defeats these so called ‘villains,’ but who are they indeed?”

In the game’s trailers, other questions about the player’s identity abound. An enemy in the first 13-minute gameplay video remarks in Chinese that the player is “another monkey,” and after defeating a wolf demon named Lingxuzi, the monkey protagonist is stopped from delivering the killing blow by a grander version of himself who is dressed in the ornamental armour more associated with Sun Wukong in films and television shows. Furthermore, the 12-minute Unreal Engine 5 gameplay test shows the player fighting against Kang Jinlong , a dragon with a golden horn who was not depicted as an adversary of Wukong in the original story.

Image credit:Game Science

All of these unusual occurrences have caused Chinese players - as well as those familiar with Journey to the West - to theorise that the character controlled by the player is not Sun Wukong himself, but rather a stray clone of the Monkey King who has broken off on his own quest. Considering that Sun Wukong appears alongside his doppleganger in footage, Black Myth’s plot may revolve around reuniting these two different aspects of the Monkey King.

Another fan theory revolves around the Six Eared Macaque, a villain in Journey to the West who disguises himself as Sun Wukong. The game may paint the original version of Journey to the West as a “black myth” where the Six Eared Macaque killed the real Monkey Kong and took his place, assuming all the glory for himself - which would possibly make the playable character the true Wukong out for revenge. While these possibilities are mere speculation at the moment, all would tie in with the title of the game, as well as Game Science’s promises that Black Myth: Wukong tells a tale that goes beyond the typical legend of the Monkey King.

Black Myth: Wukong gameplay

Black Myth: Wukong appears to feature a solid helping of Soulslike gameplay, with parrying, dodging, collectible weapons, and challenging battles against gargantuan bosses all prevelant. While the true identity of the playable monkey may remain up in the air, many of the wonderous abilities of Sun Wukong as presented in Journey to the West seem to be present and accounted for. These abilities include the following:

Image credit:Game Science

An extending staff : In Journey to the West, Wukong wields the Ruyi Jingu Bang, a staff that can shrink and extend at will. The staff is fully featured in Black Myth’s trailers, and the “true” Wukong who appears at the end of the 13-minute trailer has the Chinese characters for “Ruyi Jingu Bang” enscribed upon his weapon. In all of the released footage, Wukong can be seen using his staff to ascend to great heights, bludgeon foes, block arrows, and battle celestial enemies in heaven.

Clone creation : Sun Wukong was capable of generating clones of himself from a single strand of his hair in the novel. This ability - which anime fans might associate with Naruto’s clone jutsu - appears when Wukong battles Lingxuzi in the 13-minute debut trailer. It appears to run on a timer, like many of the Monkey King’s shapeshifting skills.

Image credit:Game Science

Cloud traversal : If you’re a Dragonball fan, you probably know of Goku’s cloud, the Flying Nimbus. This was based on Wukong’s magical cloud somersault ability, which let the Monkey King travel thousands of miles in an instant. Black Myth: Wukong has shown cloud traversal in its trailers, though whether this will be used extensively in-game - possibly as a fast-travel system - remains to be seen.

Image credit:Game Science

Shapeshifting : When it comes to transformations, Wukong’s skillset looks impressively varied. The Monkey King is capable of temporarily turning into a golden cicada, a bestial version of himself that deals excessive damage, and even former enemies when he wields their fallen weapons - as seen in gameplay footage where he turns into Huodaolang, a lupine enemy with a flaming polearm. Sun Wukong held a grand total of 72 different transformations in the book, and one can only wonder at whether Game Science has managed to recreate this vast repertoire in Black Myth.

Time freezing : Wukong boasts prodigeous combat capabilities in all of the trailers, but one of his most useful skills appears to be the ability to temporarily freeze enemies in place, allowing him to charge up his staff for critical blows or dodge away for a momentary breather. This ability works on both regular enemies and even bosses.

Black Myth: Wukong controversy

Game Science has not officially responded to the controversy, which has spurned larger discussions of casual sexism in the Chinese gaming industry, as well as the ongoing fight for feminist causes in China.

That’s all we know for the moment regarding Black Myth: Wukong. Keep your eyes peeled on Rock Paper Shotgun for more on this big-budget rendition of Wukong’s adventures as the release date draws closer, and if you’re interested in learning more about the Monkey King in the meantime, it’s always worth ordering a translated copy of Journey to the West for yourself. The 1983 Anthony C. Yu translation is widely regarded as a classic, but if you want a more modern version, check out the 2021 translation by Julia Lovell.

Black Myth: Wukong

PS5 , PC

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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