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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →In August 2024, reports said some content creators received a Steam key for Black Myth: Wukong from co-publisher Hero Games alongside a document asking them to avoid subjects including “feminist propaganda,” politics, COVID-related terms and China’s game industry. The reports did not establish how many creators received the email, and distinguished that outreach from journalists’ review access.
What the reported guidelines said
GameSpot reproduced a linked document that accompanied the creator email; Forbes contributor Paul Tassi also reported verifying the email and a working Steam code with a creator. The document’s lone “Do” was “enjoy the game.” Its “Don’ts” ranged beyond spoiler or basic conduct requests:
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- Do not insult influencers or players, or use offensive language or humor.
- Do not include politics, violence, nudity, “feminist propaganda,” fetishization, or other content said to instigate negative discourse.
- Do not use trigger words including “quarantine,” “isolation,” or “COVID-19.”
- Do not discuss China’s game-industry policies, opinions, or news.
These are instructions attributed to the linked document in the reporting, not a separately published policy statement from the developer. GameSpot and Forbes both reported the “feminist propaganda” wording. GameSpot’s August 20, 2024 report and Tassi’s August 18, 2024 report for Forbes provide the reproduced language and account of verification.
Who received the key—and who did not
The reported email was directed to content creators and included a Steam key. Forbes said the number of recipients was unclear; its account also said the email did not require an NDA. Neither point supports a claim that every creator received the message or agreed to a contract.
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- 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.
| Access described in reporting | Recipient | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| Creator outreach | Some content creators | A Steam key with a linked list of topic and conduct guidelines; the number reached is unknown. |
| Review access | Journalists at outlets discussed in the coverage | Review keys and ordinary review embargo terms, described by WIRED as including spoiler restrictions rather than the same topic list. |
GameSpot said the creator guidelines did not appear to have been sent to journalists supplied with review keys. WIRED likewise distinguished the streamer guidance from the spoiler limits associated with standard review embargoes. These accounts describe the arrangements they reported, not identical terms for every recipient in either group. See WIRED’s August 22, 2024 coverage.
What the episode does—and does not—show
The reported restrictions reflected the preferences communicated by a company, not evidence of a government directive. WIRED quoted writer and researcher Rui Zhong saying, “That Game Science put those guidelines out were in part the preferences of the company and not the government.” The cited reports identify Hero Games as the sender of the email; they do not establish that Game Science sent it or supply a definitive company explanation for the list. WIRED said Game Science did not respond to its request for comment.
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- 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.
Zhong also cautioned against reducing the backlash to broad assumptions about China: “What bothered me was that a lot of the streams pushing back against the game’s guidelines were very low-effort and played into stereotypical, surface-level impressions of Chinese politics and society.” The guideline controversy is therefore best understood as a specific reported creator communication, not as proof of a universal rule for reviewers or a statement of Chinese government policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the story drew attention
The list named political and social topics, as well as terms connected to COVID-19 and China’s game industry, making it broader than a conventional request to avoid spoilers or abusive conduct. Some streamers responded by incorporating the disputed language into stream titles; WIRED recorded individual examples. Those titles show reactions by particular creators, not the scale or representativeness of the response.
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The timing added visibility: WIRED reported that Black Myth: Wukong had passed 2.2 million concurrent players just days after its August 2024 release. That is a historical launch-period figure, not a current player count. The controversy belongs to that launch period, and the cited reporting does not establish how widely the creator email circulated.
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