"Black Myth Wukong": "Feminist propaganda" and criticism of China banned
Anyone streaming the Chinese action RPG "Black Myth Wukong" must adhere to strange guidelines. Criticism of China is prohibited - as is the word "Covid".
Screenshot from “Black Myth: Wukong”
(Image: Game Science)
The action role-playing game "Black Myth Wukong", developed by Chinese studio Game Science, is causing a stir not only because of its impressive graphics, but also because of its curious guidelines for content creators. According to a document circulating online, anyone who wants to stream "Wukong" or upload it to YouTube is not allowed to engage in "feminist propaganda" or criticize China's games industry or politics.
Several sources, including Forbes magazine and the gaming medium GLHF, have confirmed the authenticity of the document. However, it appears that the guidelines were only sent to content creators. Game journalists have not received any such requirements. Heise online did not receive any samples from the Chinese studio.
"Enjoy the game", reads the English-language document, which was apparently sent out by co-publisher Hero Games. This is followed by a long list of taboo topics: Insults to other streamers and generally offensive language are accordingly forbidden, as are politics, violence, nudity and "feminist propaganda". The studio has a long history of sexism, writes the gaming magazine IGN in a report.
"COVID" is banned
In general, the developers do not want "negative discourse" to be promoted in "Wukong" streams. Game Science is also not joking when it comes to Covid: the word "COVID-19" must not be used in "Wukong" streams, just like the terms "quarantine" and "isolation". After all, streamers are not allowed to comment on news from China, the Chinese gaming industry or Chinese politics.
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From a Western perspective, the strange list of content guidelines is reminiscent of the requirements imposed on the Chinese games industry by its government: "effeminate" or "unmanly" content and the "glorification of money" are prohibited in Chinese video games, for example, as the Chinese government emphasized a few years ago.
It is not unusual for content creators to be given brief guidelines for their game code. However, these guidelines are usually limited to avoiding embargo violations and early spoilers.
Game Science is a studio from Shenzhen that was founded in 2014 and is releasing its first title internationally with "Wukong". So far, neither the Chinese studio nor the publisher Hero Games have commented on the guidelines for content creators. The action role-playing game "Black Myth Wukong", which is set in Chinese mythology, will be released on August 20.
(dahe)
