For quite some time after the release of Black Myth: Wukong, I felt like I was walking through clouds and mist.
Something I had been dreaming about for nearly twenty years finally reached a conclusion. And this result far exceeded our initial expectations.
Logically, I should have been rolling on the ground with joy, humming happily every day.
Unfortunately, human nature isn't wired that way. Strong positive emotions seem to last for a very short time—happiness always passes in the blink of an eye.
What truly lingered in my mind during that time was mainly confusion, emptiness, and anxiety (I know this sounds pretentious, please don't shoot). No matter how ashamed I felt about not being able to be happy, these emotions still came uncontrollably, and they came fiercely—especially when I was overwhelmed by questions like "Is there DLC?", "Who's working on DLC?", and "When will DLC be released?".
As a professional adult, I'm also quite good at hiding these negative feelings, convincing myself to pull myself together and honestly start working on DLC.
Because I clearly understand that friends asking about DLC are undoubtedly people who love Black Monkey, people who like Game Science, people who carried us all the way up the mountain.
So, for most of the year after release, I determined some directions, wrote some settings, held some meetings, and the team seriously started RUNNING according to the "DLC first" plan.
This continued until one day this year when Yang Qi messaged me in the morning saying, "There's something important I'd like to consult you about."
I happened to be away from the company that day, so we agreed to talk when I returned in the evening.
When I saw him after returning, my first question was, "You don't want to do DLC, you want to make something new, don't you?"
Relieved, delighted, and naturally, we immediately reached an agreement.
Then, we began to gradually persuade other colleagues.
And then, we had what you see today—Black Myth: Zhong Kui.
DLC is certainly not a bad choice, but at this moment, we'd rather first create a new Black Myth title—
Let loose, boldly experiment, not constrained by established methods, starting from scratch.
Maybe many people think DLC is steady, DLC is safe, DLC is clear, DLC would be faster.
But I've seen many fan creations that are already more wildly imaginative and unrestrained than our previous DLC ideas [doge]
Like all of you, I absolutely adore the world of demons, monsters, gods, and buddhas in Journey to the West, so the legend of Wukong will return in a more complete and solid way in the future, properly prepared before making an official comeback.
In the book Ask Iwata, Nintendo's former president said: "There is no future on the existing extension line."
Only with the unknown can there be surprises; only with challenges can there be乐趣 (fun/joy).
Game Science will carry everyone's love and wishes, and continue to seriously deliver each new answer sheet.
Source: Statement by Feng Ji, Founder of Game Science. Original post on Weibo.