Black Myth: Zhong Kui Shows 15 Minutes of Unreal Engine 5 Gameplay as 2028 Launch Remains Unconfirmed

Game Science has delivered the first major gameplay showcase for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, releasing nearly 16 minutes of in game footage that provides the clearest look yet at the studio’s second Black Myth action RPG. The official gameplay trailer released on August 20, continuing Game Science’s tradition of sharing Black Myth updates around the anniversary of Black Myth: Wukong. The footage was captured from an unfinished build running at a 21:9 aspect ratio, with Game Science warning that the final game may change substantially before release.

The new footage immediately establishes a different combat identity from Black Myth: Wukong. Instead of the Destined One’s staff focused fighting style, the playable white robed swordsman uses a straight sword with close range combinations, visible weapon deflections, counters, dodges, paper talismans, and supernatural abilities. One sequence shows a talisman triggering a fiery attack across a group of enemies, while another introduces a mysterious spirit that fights alongside the player during a large boss encounter. Game Science has not officially identified the playable swordsman shown throughout most of the demonstration, so assumptions that he represents a younger Zhong Kui remain unconfirmed.

Combat appears more grounded around direct weapon clashes and defensive timing than Wukong’s heavily evasive approach. The demonstration begins with smaller supernatural enemies before escalating into larger creatures armed with clubs and axes, eventually reaching a major confrontation with a giant clam like entity identified as True Lord Giant Clam. The closing portion rapidly expands the visual scope with additional duels, supernatural markets, musicians, grotesque spirits, magical attacks, and an appearance from the traditional image of Zhong Kui riding a tiger.

The presentation is also another major technical showcase for Unreal Engine 5. Dense vegetation, highly detailed creature models, atmospheric fog, dynamic lighting, water effects, particle heavy magic, and elaborate material work appear throughout the demonstration. Game Science is still treating many of these elements as experimental, meaning visual quality, performance, interface design, combat systems, and environmental complexity can continue changing before launch.

Black Myth: Zhong Kui was originally announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live in August 2025, when development was still so early that Game Science described the project as little more than an empty folder. The studio chose Zhong Kui instead of immediately developing a direct Black Myth: Wukong sequel because it wanted to experiment with new heroes, gameplay, visuals, technology, storytelling, and world design while keeping the broader Black Myth identity rooted in Chinese mythology and folklore. Game Science still describes Zhong Kui as a traditional single player action RPG using the same premium business model as Wukong.

The game is planned for PC and mainstream console platforms, although Game Science has not finalized individual platform announcements. More importantly, there is still no official release year or release window. When asked directly about timing, the studio offered no estimate.

"Even Yocar himself has absolutely no idea."
— Quote by: Game Science

A 2028 release has been suggested as a plausible target based largely on Game Science’s previous development cadence rather than any official roadmap. Black Myth: Wukong took roughly 4 years to move from its public gameplay reveal in August 2020 to release in August 2024, while Zhong Kui was announced at a significantly earlier production stage in August 2025. A similar development cycle would place the new game somewhere around 2028 or later, but that remains an estimate and should not be treated as a confirmed launch window.

Expectations surrounding the project are considerably higher this time. Black Myth: Wukong reportedly surpassed 30 million copies sold worldwide, with more than half of those sales reportedly coming from markets outside China. That success transformed Game Science from an ambitious Chinese developer into a studio developing its next project for a massive global audience.

The new gameplay footage suggests Zhong Kui will not simply repeat Wukong with a different protagonist. Sword combat, stronger emphasis on deflection, supernatural companions, talismans, new enemy designs, and a darker ghost hunting atmosphere already give the second Black Myth game its own mechanical and visual direction while preserving the elaborate mythology and creature design that defined its predecessor.

The most encouraging part of this showcase is not the graphics. It is how quickly Zhong Kui is beginning to establish a different gameplay identity.

Black Myth could easily have become a franchise where Game Science repeatedly reproduced Wukong’s staff combat and boss structure with different mythological characters. Instead, the studio appears to be treating each entry as an opportunity to reinterpret Chinese folklore through different combat systems, supernatural mechanics, characters, and environments.

The visual presentation is predictably impressive, but nearly 16 minutes of functional combat and exploration matter more than another cinematic teaser. Zhong Kui was described as extremely early in development only 1 year ago, and the current build already demonstrates a substantial mechanical foundation.

A 2028 release would be believable, but it remains unnecessary speculation until Game Science commits to a window. The studio has already shown that it is comfortable developing without announcing a date years in advance. After the scale of Wukong’s success, giving Zhong Kui the time required to become something meaningfully different is probably the better strategy.

Do you prefer Zhong Kui’s sword combat, parries, and supernatural abilities over Wukong’s staff focused gameplay, or do you need to see more before deciding?