The TGA awards have concluded for a day, and I thought I’d say a few heartfelt words now, hoping they might be useful to some friends. After all, I didn’t get a chance to say them on stage yesterday. [doge]
1
This awards ceremony coincided with the release of a major update. For me personally, this seven-year-long project has now officially come to an end.
The four nominations for Black Myth: Wukong (Best Action Game, Best Art Direction, Best Game Direction, and Game of the Year) are a first for China. Ultimately, we won Best Action Game and Players’ Voice. Winning Players’ Voice, in particular, is truly gratifying.
But I must admit, there’s some disappointment, some regret, and mostly a sense of casting away illusions.
The games nominated this year are all exceptional, but I honestly have no idea what the criteria for Game of the Year were this time. I came all the way here for freaking nothing!
2
From yesterday until now, I’ve seen a lot of players expressing strong dissatisfaction, unwillingness, and frustration—most of it conveyed humorously or through deconstruction, which is honestly hilarious.
I completely understand this discontent and share these frustrations because I know that behind these emotions are not pain or malice but pride and confidence.
Being so confident yet not gaining others’ recognition—it’s normal to feel a little upset.
To be honest… I’m even more confident than you are (refer to my first answer on Zhihu). I wrote the speech for the Game of the Year award stage two years ago, and yet, I didn’t get to use it. [bitter laughter x3]
During the development of this game, many colleagues were less optimistic than I was. Having experienced too many interim versions, they inevitably felt the game had too many flaws and doubted it could launch on time.
One of my main roles at the company was to constantly reassure them that we’d done a great job and that the product was steadily improving.
Yes, you can’t only be confident when you’re already winning.
That’s not confidence—it’s just echoing the results.
We lost today and might lose again tomorrow, but so what?
There are too many complex factors influencing outcomes, so results are inherently uncertain. The only thing we can determine is what we choose to do:
To tackle specific challenges, to do hard things, and to do what we believe in.
In doing these, we should, of course, be confident.
3
Some people say it’s a rare fluke for a team with no experience in single-player games to achieve such results with their first attempt—and that it’s unlikely to be replicated in the future.
I’d say this is no fluke. It’s the inevitable result of Chinese culture, Chinese talent, China’s business environment, and China’s game industry colliding with global players.
If we hadn’t seen this “inevitability” early on, we wouldn’t have been so determined in making this choice. It wasn’t a gamble—it was acting in harmony with the times.
Game Science is fortunate to have participated in and witnessed the beginning of this “trend.” I believe more peers will bring even better, more interesting, and more confident Chinese stories to the world in the future.
4
There’s a well-known saying from Journey to the West that many don’t realize originates from the book:
“No hardship in the world is insurmountable to one with resolve.”
To me, this doesn’t mean that any difficulty can be conquered if you’re willing to try. Instead, it means that with a mindset of facing challenges head-on, difficulties and failures become less intimidating. They won’t easily defeat you.
A life that can calmly navigate unavoidable hardships will feel more grounded.
Because it’s hard, it’s also fun.
5
Why are we called Game Science?
When we decide to analyze and solve specific problems with mathematics, physics, and the foundational sciences and engineering derived from them, without resorting to mysticism or sensationalism, we can truly look at this complex world with level-headedness. We can understand where those far ahead of us excel.
If someone dismisses specific issues without presenting evidence or logic and claims something is too challenging or too deep, maybe you should test their knowledge of partial differentials.
Science isn’t the truth; it’s an honest attitude toward seeking the truth.
6
In truth, being able to make and play games already makes us a very lucky group.
In this world, many people don’t even have the opportunity to play so-called AAA games, haven’t used consoles or computers, or feel lost, in pain, or even in despair. Many endure suffering and injustice.
I think, precisely because of this, we should create better games—content that lets more people experience truth, goodness, and beauty.
I’ve always believed the greatest value of good games is making the distribution of happiness in this world more equitable.
The road ahead is long, the winds are fierce, and the demon king is still arrogant—but we’re always getting stronger.
7
Finally, I hope the story of Black Myth can give some courage to those still lost and wandering in the dark and allow them to see a glimmer of light, so they can move forward with a calm heart.
I hope everyone continues to carry confidence and ambition, stays brave, honest, and kind, works diligently on every small task, and calmly accepts uncertain results—continuing on the journey until the very end of life.
As Hemingway said: “The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.”
