In August 2024, Forbes, The Guardian, GameSpot and WIRED reported that some creators who received early access to Black Myth: Wukong were sent guidance asking them to avoid politics, COVID-19, and “feminist propaganda,” among other subjects. Those limits went well beyond the spoiler embargoes that game coverage normally carries, and the guidance quickly became a story in its own right. The reporting describes what recipients and outlets said the guidance contained. It does not establish who wrote it or how many creators received it.
What the reported guidance covered
According to the coverage, the guidance accompanied early-access keys and asked some creators to steer clear of a list of subjects. The named subjects were politics, COVID-19, and “feminist propaganda.” Forbes and GameSpot both reproduced the core passage of the document:
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Black Myth Wukong - For PS5 | $68.58 | Buy on Amazon |
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PRAGMATA - PlayStation 5 | $59.88 | Buy on Amazon |
“Do NOT include politics, violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization and other content that instigates negative discourse.”
That wording is attributed to the circulated guidance, not to a named Game Science spokesperson. Outlets reported the document; none of the reporting cited here establishes a direct on-record statement from an identified developer employee endorsing it.
#1 Best Overall
- Explore a land of vast wonders - A world unseen, where new sights rise with every stride- Enter a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology! Confront mighty foes, old and new - Heroic Monkey, might and fame, adversaries rise, to test his name. One of the major highlights of Journey to the West is its diverse cast of adversaries, each with unique strengths.
- Temper your mastery of varied spells - Spells unbound, knowledge's flight, infinite abilities take their height. Spells, transformations, and magic vessels in all manifestations, complementary yet adversarial, have long been iconic combat elements of Chinese mythology.
- Discover heartfelt tales behind every façade - Uncover the stories behind a variety of characters. Beneath the ferocity of your foes is a tapestry of their origins, personalities and motivations waiting to be revealed.
- Digital Deluxe Edition Voucher Code Included - PSN voucher code provides Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, Folk Opera Buskins, Wind Chimes, and selected Digital Soundtrack.
- Languages – In-game voice: Chinese and English. In-game text: English, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese.
Spoiler embargoes and topic restrictions are not the same thing
Review embargoes are a familiar part of game launches. They typically limit how much story content can be disclosed before a set date. The guidance described in August 2024 went further, and WIRED reported that the two arrangements were not applied uniformly.
| Arrangement | Reported scope | Reported recipients | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spoiler-focused review embargo | Restricts disclosure of story content before the embargo lifts; no reported restriction on political or social subjects | Polygon and Kotaku, as reported by WIRED | WIRED, August 2024 |
| Early-access creator guidance with topic restrictions | Asks creators to avoid politics, COVID-19, “feminist propaganda,” and other listed subjects | Some creators with early-access keys; the number is not stated in the reporting | Forbes, The Guardian, GameSpot, August 2024 |
The practical difference is scope. A spoiler embargo governs when and how plot details may be revealed. The reported guidance governed what creators could say about entire categories of public discussion, which is why it drew a different kind of criticism.
Rank #2
- Explore a land of vast wonders - A world unseen, where new sights rise with every stride- Enter a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology! Confront mighty foes, old and new - Heroic Monkey, might and fame, adversaries rise, to test his name. One of the major highlights of Journey to the West is its diverse cast of adversaries, each with unique strengths.
- Temper your mastery of varied spells - Spells unbound, knowledge's flight, infinite abilities take their height. Spells, transformations, and magic vessels in all manifestations, complementary yet adversarial, have long been iconic combat elements of Chinese mythology.
- Discover heartfelt tales behind every façade - Uncover the stories behind a variety of characters. Beneath the ferocity of your foes is a tapestry of their origins, personalities and motivations waiting to be revealed.
- Digital Deluxe Edition Voucher Code Included - PSN voucher code provides Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, Folk Opera Buskins, Wind Chimes, and selected Digital Soundtrack.
- Languages – In-game voice: Chinese and English. In-game text: English, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese.
Who said what
Each outlet reported a different piece of the story, and the attribution limits matter for reading them accurately.
| Source | What it reported | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| GameSpot (August 2024) | The email accompanying the guidelines described them as not an NDA, and said statements made by creators were their own and not related to the marketing team. | This reports the email’s own framing. It does not settle who drafted or distributed each copy. |
| PC Gamer (August 2024) | When asked about the founders’ earlier remarks, Game Science responded: “We have no comment, we’re sorry.” | This is a non-answer. It does not confirm authorship of the creator document. |
| WIRED (August 2024) | Streamer linktothepabst described the guidelines as “bogus” in an interview. | This is one creator’s reaction, not a statement from the developer. |
Why the guidance drew backlash
The criticism centred on scope rather than on spoilers as such. Creators and readers objected that a request to protect unreleased story content had been extended to political and social topics that have nothing to do with a game’s plot. Linktothepabst’s “bogus” reaction, reported by WIRED, is the clearest on-record creator response in the coverage.
Rank #3
- The story, characters, voice acting, gameplay, and music that made the original a sensation return, remade for modern consoles
- This evolutionary leap breathes new life into every cutscene, and rebuilds every corner of the world
- Incredible new graphics bring the wild growth of the jungles, forests, and swamps to life in exquisite detail
- Characters are rendered in fine detail so that facial wrinkles, pores, & separate eye & iris movements are visible, allowing for rich animations
- Any injuries to his actual body will leave their mark permanently, telling a story of each player's unique journey
The headline’s “It Backfired” describes that reaction and the press attention that followed. The reporting documents criticism and coverage of the guidance itself. It does not measure any effect on sales, audience size, or how the game was received, and this article does not claim one.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The game at the centre of the story
The official PlayStation Store lists Black Myth: Wukong as a PS5 title published by Game Science Interactive Technology Co., Ltd. Its product description calls it an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Out-of-This-World Adventure – Stranded on a lunar space station, Hugh encounters Diana, a mysterious android resembling a young girl. While searching for a way back to Earth, they fight to survive against Bots directed to “neutralize” intruders.
- Hack & Shoot – Use each character’s distinct abilities to take down enemies. In combat, Diana can hack foes to expose weaknesses so Hugh can blast them with weapons. This unique fusion of gameplay offers an action-packed experience like no other.
- Space Exploration – Teamwork also extends to traversing the station. Utilize the thrusters in Hugh’s futuristic suit to dash and hover around while Diana hacks security systems to solve puzzles. Only together can they overcome all obstacles.
- Collect and Customize – Gather materials while exploring the station to unlock upgrades, build out a diverse arsenal of weapons, obtain new outfits, and more. Once you’re ready, use the new gear in battle and take on even greater challenges!
Rank #4
- Marvel’s Wolverine is a new action-packed adventure from Insomniac Games
- Play as Wolverine and Ravage enemies with explosive brutality and unleash razor-sharp adamantium claws to deploy fast, fluid attacks and overcome impossible odds
- An Original, Emotionally Charged Story. Beneath Wolverine’s gruff exterior and violent temperament is a man fighting for a cause greater than himself
- A Global, Adrenaline-Fueled Journey where you slice into enemies across detailed locales such as the frosted Canadian Wilderness, the narrow streets of Tokyo, and the high and low districts of the island nation of Madripoor
What the reporting does not establish
- Scale: No count of how many creators received the guidance was reported.
- Uniformity: WIRED reported that outlets including Polygon and Kotaku received spoiler-focused embargoes without the topic restrictions, so the guidance was not a universal rule for all coverage.
- Authorship: The developer’s response to PC Gamer did not confirm who wrote or distributed the document.
- Impact: No sales figures, viewership changes, or reception data tied to the controversy were reported.
- Current status: This article reflects reporting from August 2024. It does not establish whether the guidance was later revised or withdrawn.
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