The rise of Chinese game development is becoming increasingly difficult for the rest of the industry to ignore, and Black Myth: Wukong has emerged as one of the clearest examples of how quickly the country’s developers are advancing. Michael Yum, CEO of PM Studios, believes Chinese developers are now reaching a point where they could significantly reshape the global games industry.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Yum praised the speed, talent and ambition he has seen from Chinese development teams. He argued that their ability to produce visually impressive games at a faster pace and lower cost could put pressure on developers elsewhere in the world to adapt.
Michael Yum Says Chinese Developers Are “Setting the Bar”
Yum has worked with developers from China for years, including through PM Studios’ involvement with Black Myth: Wukong. His assessment is that Chinese studios have become exceptionally competitive in both production quality and development efficiency.
“They are setting the bar now. They’re making games way faster than everyone else, way cheaper than everyone else.”
Yum also warned that the rest of the industry could struggle to keep pace if these advantages continue. He added that Chinese developers are “very hungry” and talented, with the ability to produce increasingly ambitious projects.
His comments come as Chinese-developed games continue gaining international attention. Black Myth: Wukong, developed by Game Science and physically published by PM Studios on PlayStation 5, became a major global success and helped demonstrate that Chinese studios can compete for audiences far beyond their domestic market. PM Studios lists Game Science as the game’s publisher alongside itself for the physical PS5 release.
Black Myth: Wukong Helped PM Studios See the Potential
Yum’s confidence in Chinese development is closely connected to PM Studios’ experience with Black Myth: Wukong. He previously described taking on the game’s physical publishing as “one of our biggest risks”, admitting he did not expect it to become as successful as it ultimately was.
“When it took off, yeah, it was quite an experience. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Yum said the game’s success was so significant that it “covered everything else” for PM Studios, reinforcing his belief that ambitious games from emerging markets can become major international successes.
PM Studios Is Also Betting on AA Games
The publisher’s growing interest in Chinese development comes alongside its broader push into the AA games market. Yum believes these projects can occupy an appealing space between large AAA productions and smaller indie games, particularly because stronger visuals can help them stand out in increasingly crowded digital storefronts.
PM Studios is also continuing to support indie developers while becoming more selective about its larger investments. Yum said the company looks for factors such as an established IP, a proven developer, a sequel or strong wishlists to reduce the financial risk of AA projects.
For Yum, however, China’s growing influence is not simply about one successful game. Black Myth: Wukong appears to have reinforced his view that Chinese developers are becoming a major force capable of influencing how games are made, financed and marketed worldwide.
