Black Myth: Wukong Is Selling More Than Just Games

Black Myth: Wukong has made a significant impact on the gaming monitor market. According to analyst firm Trendforce, the game’s release in late 2024 led to a notable increase in demand, especially in China. This surge benefited LCD panel manufacturers like HKC, CSOT, and BOE, with sales boosts of 50%, 40%, and 20% respectively.

Without the influence of Black Myth: Wukong, the global gaming monitor market might have seen minimal growth. Trendforce reports a 12% increase in 2024, totaling 32.4 million units. They define gaming monitors as those with at least a 144 Hz refresh rate.

OLED monitors have also gained popularity. Sales grew from 900,000 units in 2023 to 2 million in 2024, with expectations to reach 2.8 million in 2025. However, there’s a discrepancy in market share figures. In January, LG claimed OLEDs accounted for 22% of gaming monitor sales and projected a 13.3% market share for 2024. In contrast, Trendforce estimates OLED’s market share at around 6% for 2024, anticipating an 8% share in 2025.

These differing figures highlight the challenges in accurately measuring the market. LG and Samsung produce most OLED panels for gaming monitors, but exact production numbers remain undisclosed. Despite this, the trend indicates a growing interest in OLED technology among gamers.

To further boost OLED adoption, several factors are essential. First, more affordable OLED monitors from reputable brands with reliable customer support are needed. Second, the latest OLED panel technologies, offering brighter displays and improved durability, should be quickly integrated into PC monitors. Third, a variety of screen sizes and resolutions, including ultrawide options with higher pixel densities, would cater to diverse user preferences.

However, the high cost of powerful graphics cards required to fully utilize high-resolution OLED monitors remains a concern. Balancing performance with affordability is crucial for mainstream adoption.

In summary, Black Myth: Wukong has played a pivotal role in boosting gaming monitor sales, particularly in China. The growing interest in OLED monitors is evident, but achieving widespread adoption will depend on making these monitors more accessible and affordable to gamers worldwide.