Black Myth: Wukong, considered China’s first true AAA game, has broken Steam’s record for concurrent players in a single-player title, surpassing Cyberpunk 2077. The action-adventure game, inspired by the 16th-century novel Journey to the West, peaked at 2,223,179 players, becoming the second-most played game on Steam, including multiplayer titles, overtaking Palworld.

Industry analyst Simon Carless of GameDiscoverCo posted a regional breakdown showing that 88% of the game’s players were from China, with the U.S. following at just 3%. The data was released early Tuesday morning, shortly after the game’s launch, which occurred in the middle of the night in the West.

However, Black Myth: Wukong’s success has been clouded by controversy. Developer Game Science has faced accusations of misogyny, stemming from past recruitment ads and workplace culture. Streamers granted early access were also handed a non-legally-binding document that restricted them from discussing topics like politics, COVID-19, “feminist propaganda,” and the Chinese gaming industry while streaming the game. The restrictions have sparked criticism over censorship concerns, further complicating the game’s milestone achievement.

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Mpox poses a low risk to the general population and is “not the new Covid,” according to Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Kluge emphasized that comparisons between mpox and the coronavirus pandemic are misguided, urging global collaboration to control and eliminate the virus.

“We can, and must, tackle mpox together — across regions and continents,” Kluge said. He warned that the global response would be a “critical test” for Europe and the world, determining whether mpox will be eradicated or neglected.

The UN health agency recently declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries.

Mpox, previously called monkeypox, is a viral infection typically found in west and central Africa. There are two strains: Clade I, linked to more severe illness, and Clade II, responsible for the 2022 global outbreak. Though Clade II is less severe, Europe has recorded about 100 new cases monthly. Sweden recently confirmed the first Clade I case outside of Africa.

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