Black Myth: Zhong Kui vs WARLOCK: Dungeons & Dragons

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Mythological Tang Dynasty China
• Platforms: PC and all other mainstream console platforms
• Release Window: TBA (Estimated 2028 or later)
• Unique Feature: A new entry in the 'Black Myth' saga based on the Chinese mythological figure Zhong Kui, the 'demon queller', promising a unique blend of historical setting and ghost-style horror combat.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Shattered Open World (D&D Lore Inspired)
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Unique Feature: Performance capture by Tricia Helfer and systemic magic that doubles as environmental keys.

• Tiger: The teaser trailer shows Zhong Kui riding a tiger, suggesting that he may have an animal companion for traversal and possibly combat.
  Mythical Animal
• Captured Demons (Speculative): As a 'ghost-catching god,' it's possible that Zhong Kui could temporarily command the demons he has captured to fight alongside him.
  Demonic

• Captured Souls: Defeated ghosts and demons. These could serve as a currency for upgrading abilities or as lore entries in a bestiary.
• Calligraphy Scrolls: Hidden scrolls showcasing Zhong Kui's mastery of calligraphy. These could provide lore, unlock new skills, or offer buffs.

• Chinese Mythology
• Dark Fantasy
• Soulslike
• Action RPG
• Folklore
• Supernatural
• Horror

• Dark Fantasy
• Forbidden Magic
• Sacrifice
• Otherworldly Pacts
• Resilience
• Gothic Mystery
• Power Fantasy

• The Underworld Sword: Magical Sword
  Zhong Kui's signature weapon, bestowed upon him by Yama, King of Hell. It is forged in the fires of the underworld and is capable of vanquishing powerful demons.
• Martial Arts: Unarmed
  Zhong Kui is a master of martial arts, suggesting that unarmed combat and various hand-to-hand techniques will be a viable part of his moveset.

• Scholar's Robe: The iconic attire of Zhong Kui, representing his past life as a scholar. Players will likely be able to find and equip different sets of armor inspired by the Tang Dynasty and mythological designs, providing various defensive stats and bonuses.

• Historical & Mythological Attire: Players can be expected to unlock and equip various outfits for Zhong Kui, from his traditional scholar's robes to more ornate, divine armor befitting his role as a demon queller.

As a Soulslike ARPG, players can expect a deep progression system. Zhong Kui's abilities will revolve around his mastery of martial arts and his new demonic powers. Upgrades will likely be tied to his magical sword, forged in the underworld, and his ability to see and capture different types of ghosts and demons.

Move away from traditional 5e character sheets to a real-time arcane power fantasy. Progression centers on mastering 'Systemic Magic,' where spells have utility both in combat and exploration. Players creatively mix and match abilities to solve puzzles and navigate the world, focusing on expressive casting rather than simple projectiles.

The game will take place across both the mortal realm, specifically Tang Dynasty China, and the underworld (Hell). The structure of the world has not yet been detailed but is expected to feature a mix of historical locations and mythological realms.

The game features an ambitious, 'checklist-free' open world designed to feel like a journey. The setting is 'beautiful yet unsettling,' focusing on exploration where magic acts as a key to unlock new paths. Regions vary from high-fantasy ruins to darker, shattered landscapes populated by warring monster tribes.

• Zhong Kui: Playable Protagonist
  A brilliant scholar with a fierce appearance who, after a tragic end, becomes a powerful deity tasked with hunting ghosts and demons.
• Yama: Key NPC / The King of Hell
  The judge of the underworld who recognizes Zhong Kui's righteous soul and grants him his new powers and purpose.

• The Journey of Zhong Kui
  A cinematic campaign that will retell the classic folk story of Zhong Kui, from his life as a brilliant but scorned scholar in the Tang Dynasty to his transformation into a powerful guardian of the mortal and spirit realms.

• Q: What is Black Myth: Zhong Kui?
  A: It is the next single-player action RPG from Game Science, the developers of Black Myth: Wukong. It is a new story in the 'Black Myth' saga, focusing on the Chinese mythological figure Zhong Kui, the demon queller.
• Q: Is this a sequel to Black Myth: Wukong?
  A: No, it is a completely separate game with a new protagonist and story. However, it exists within the same universe of Chinese mythology. The developers have suggested that a Wukong sequel or DLC could still happen in the future.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: There is no official release date or window. The game was just announced at Gamescom 2025 and is in very early development. It is not expected for at least three to four years.
• Q: What kind of gameplay can we expect?
  A: It will be a Soulslike action RPG, similar to Black Myth: Wukong, but is expected to feature 'horror or ghost-style combat' and new mechanics centered around Zhong Kui's role as a vanquisher of evil spirits.

• Q: Is WARLOCK a turn-based RPG like Baldur's Gate 3?
  A: No. WARLOCK is a real-time third-person action-adventure game that prioritizes visceral combat and systemic interaction over tabletop simulation.
• Q: Do I need to know D&D lore to play?
  A: No. The game is designed to be accessible to newcomers, teaching all necessary lore within the narrative.
• Q: Who is the main character?
  A: The protagonist is Kaatri, a veteran weapons master performed by Tricia Helfer.

• ENTIRELY SPECULATIVE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As the game is in very early development, these are hypothetical projections for a future next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5. They do not represent official information.
• Laptop Performance Note: A future title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, such as Lumen and Nanite.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Next-gen games will require laptops with cutting-edge cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling and sustain performance during intense, visually-demanding boss fights.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of demonic entities and the physics of a detailed world.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness in the skill-based combat.
• Game Name: Black Myth: Zhong Kui

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As a 2027 flagship AAA title, the game is being developed exclusively for high-end current-generation hardware and PC architectures.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will be heavily dependent on GPU TGP and the ability to maintain thermal stability during systemic magic calculations. **High-end gaming laptops with RTX 40/50-series mobile GPUs will be required for high-fidelity settings.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is essential to render the 'beautiful yet unsettling' shattered world and complex particle effects from expressive magic casting.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The systemic magic system and high-fidelity performance capture require robust cooling to prevent thermal throttling during intense boss encounters.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core CPU is critical for handling the dense swarms of AI-driven monsters like the Death Kiss.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Highly recommended for minimizing latency in the visceral, real-time melee combat system.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Will support DLSS 3/FSR 3 or later for maintaining high frame rates during complex spell mixing.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Systemic Magic Density, Shadow Quality (Raven Queen influence), and Performance Capture fidelity are the primary performance drivers.
• Game Name: WARLOCK: Dungeons & Dragons

• Upscaling Tech: Will support DLSS 3/FSR 3 or later for maintaining high frame rates during complex spell mixing.
• Key Settings Impact: Systemic Magic Density, Shadow Quality (Raven Queen influence), and Performance Capture fidelity are the primary performance drivers.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, such as Lumen and Nanite.
• Cooling Thermals: Next-gen games will require laptops with cutting-edge cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling and sustain performance during intense, visually-demanding boss fights.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of demonic entities and the physics of a detailed world.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness in the skill-based combat.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is essential to render the 'beautiful yet unsettling' shattered world and complex particle effects from expressive magic casting.
• Cooling Thermals: The systemic magic system and high-fidelity performance capture require robust cooling to prevent thermal throttling during intense boss encounters.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core CPU is critical for handling the dense swarms of AI-driven monsters like the Death Kiss.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Highly recommended for minimizing latency in the visceral, real-time melee combat system.