Black Myth: Wukong is one of the year's most anticipated releases. It is geared for launch towards the end of this month with early preview impressions favoring the title considerably for its Soulsborne-like gameplay, next-gen visuals, and a fresh focus on Chinese mythology.
This also pushes its developer, Game Science into the limelight as the title features possibly some of the most ambitious use of Epic's Unreal Engine 5 to date as it aims to break into the highly competitive AAA games market.
Black Myth: Wukong Hardware Requirements Explained
To do this, Game Science is, as mentioned previously leveraging Epic's Unreal Engine 5, in tandem with Nvidia's DLSS, AMD's FSR, and Intel's XESS upscalers to the tune that they are mentioned in the notes in Black Myth's hardware requirements below.
Black Myth: Wukong's Hardware Requirements for PC (Source: Steam)
Much of its hardware requirements are more or less standard, with a relatively recent CPU being part of both minimum and recommended hardware presets. The title suggests that users with older GPUs should also be able to run the title by scaling back on graphics presets.
The storage front is where Black Myth: Wukong is one of the most demanding titles to date, even before its release, with the developer suggesting a mammoth 130 GB of storage for the game not accounting for future updates and/or DLC down the line.
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Ray Tracing On Or Off?
For the most part, Black Myth: Wukong seems to have middle-of-the-road hardware requirements but does offer support for newer tech including Ray Tracing under the hood. To this effect, Nvidia has also published hardware requirements for 3 different tiers of Ray Tracing with suggested CPU, GPU, and RAM configurations as well as in-game presets.
Nvidia suggests 3 different tiers of RT performance based on the underlying PC hardware (including an Nvidia GPU) that powers one's experience (Source: Nvidia.com)
Playing Black Myth: Wukong On A Gaming Laptop
Black Myth: Wukong is not a demanding title without Ray Tracing beyond its storage requirements. However, for those who want the best possible visual experience, it can quickly move into demanding territory for its hardware with the GPU in particular focus.
This is only compounded by the fact that gaming laptops have stricter power limits and thermal headroom versus comparable desktops. This could mean that users might have to opt for higher-end hardware - at least in comparison to similarly named desktop products - to exact similar performance.
The team at The Best War Games has done the research required here, picking out some of the best gaming laptops for Black Myth: Wukong, which also double as excellent gaming and productivity-centric picks for gamers and creators alike in 2024.
The Best Gaming Laptops For Black Myth: Wukong Handpicked
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2024)
The All-Rounder
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX
- GPU
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
- RAM
- 16GB
- Storage
- 1TB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2024) features an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of storage. It houses a 16-inch QHD+ (2560x1600) display with a high 165Hz refresh rate and support for Nvidia's G-Sync under the hood.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Battery
- 90Wh
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 16-inch, QHD+ 2560x1600
- Speakers
- 2-speaker system
- Weight
- 2.27 kg
- Brand
- ASUS
- Model
- TUF Gaming A16 (2024)
- Adaptor and Battery
- 280W
- Offers a mid-range DLSS-capable RTX 4070 GPU
- Has a large 1TB SSD in play for Black Myth: Wukong's storage needs
- Exceeds CPU and meets RAM requirements for the game
- Does trade at a slight premium versus other RTX 4070-based gaming laptops
With a capable 16-core, 32-thread CPU and a mid-range RTX 4070 GPU, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 remains a favorite for the team at The Best War Games. It also happens to be one of the most perfectly suited candidates for playing Black Myth: Wukong at launch, meeting or exceeding all of its requirements considerably while sitting in the middle of Nvidia's Ray Tracing hardware guidelines.
It also offers a larger 1TB NVMe SSD versus some of its peers that ship with a considerably smaller 512GB SSD. This matters in particular when one sizes it up against the title's mammoth 135GB size requirement, which is only expected to grow over time with future patches, updates, and potential DLC down the line.
With an excellent QHD display and a refresh rate of 165Hz in play, the TUF Gaming A16 is a stellar option that happens to cruise into The Best War Games's recommendation list with a sub-$1500 price tag that is slightly higher than other RTX 4070-based options but one that it can afford to command given its positioning as a durable value buy in 2024.
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MSI Cyborg 15
A Capable Alternative
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- Intel Core i7-13620H
- GPU
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050
- RAM
- 16GB
The MSI Cyborg 15 (A13VE-218US) is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that features the 13th-Gen Intel Core i7-13620H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. It comes with a 15.6-inch FHD, IPS-level display capable of 144Hz refresh rate. The laptop has two 2W speakers and a single color backlight for the keyboard.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Storage
- 512GB
- Battery
- 53.5Wh
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080)
- Speakers
- 2x 2W speakers
- Weight
- 1.9 kg
- Brand
- MSI
- Model
- Cyborg 15 A13VE-218US
- Connectivity
- Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, Gigabit LAN
- Comes with a respectable CPU and GPU combo for a budget gaming laptop
- Has the prerequisite RAM and SSD storage under the hood that Black: Myth Wukong requires
- Priced aggressively for its underlying hardware
- A 512GB SSD might feel small with just Black Myth taking up 135GB of space
- Has very limited battery life
For users looking to play Black Myth: Wukong while keeping their budget as low as possible, MSI's Cyborg 15 is an excellent alternative to most of the laptops on the list that clock in north of the $1000 mark. It pairs a capable 13th-generation Core i7 CPU with an RTX 4050 GPU that allows it to leverage the DLSS 3 performance that the title offers while meeting its requirements handily.
It also comes with an NVMe SSD but one that users could potentially argue would be one that requires an upgrade in the near future as nearly 40% of it would be filled between its preinstalled copy of Windows and the title itself. This can, however, be easily remedied - the Cyborg 15 supports any off-the-shelf M2 SSD and may even benefit from a new Windows install by removing some of the bloat that it comes with.
ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D
Ray Traced Overkill
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4090
- RAM
- 32GB
The ROG Scar 17 X3D from Asus is a gaming and productivity laptop that features the first AMD mobile processor with 3D V-Cache, the Ryzen 9 7495HX3D. The laptop is also powered by an RTX 4090 mobile GPU that has a TGP of 175W. It comes with 32GB of DDR5-4800 RAM, 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD. It packs a 17.3-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS display with 240 Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. The ROG Scar 17 X3D sports a 90WHr battery, and it supports 100W charging via USB Type-C, along with charging through its massive 330W AC adapter.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Storage
- 2TB
- Battery
- 90Whr
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 17.3-Inch 2K 240Hz Display
- Camera
- 720P HD Camera
- Speakers
- 2-speaker system
- Weight
- 6.61 lbs
- Brand
- ASUS ROG
- Model
- Scar 17 X3D
- Adaptor and Battery
- 330W AC, 90WHr
- Keyboard
- Backlit Chiclet Keyboard Per-Key RGB
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Offers the fastest gaming laptop CPU in play currently
- Has an RTX 4090 GPU under the hood
- Comes with an excellent 2K 240Hz display
- Trades at a premium versus other RTX 4090-based gaming laptops
For users planning to max out their experience, the ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D offers the best of both worlds: the fastest gaming laptop CPU married to Nvidia's fastest mobile chip yet, making for a deadly combination that also allows the title to be played in all its glory on a high resolution 2K screen with a 240Hz refresh rate with Ray Tracing enabled.
To do this, the Scar 17's powerful CPU and GPU combination is aided by 2TB of SSD storage in a RAID configuration, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and liquid metal under the hood to keep thermals in check, making it one of, if not the fastest gaming laptops money can buy. It does, as a result, command a premium versus other RTX 4090-based gaming laptops, but as one of the only players that has AMD's extended L3 cache (also known as 3D V-Cache) on offer for games, it comes to the table with a sizable advantage versus its peers.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 2024 (RTX 4060)
Good Things Come In Small Packages
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
- GPU
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 90W
- RAM
- 16GB LPDDR5X
The 2024 model of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 comes with an AI-infused 8-Core AMD Ryzen 9 CPU in addition to Nvidia's mid-range RTX 4060 GPU. With 16GB of LPDDR5X memory on offer and a large 1TB PCI-E 4.0 SSD.
It offers a high PPI 14-inch 3K OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a backlit chiclet keyboard while clocking in at just under 1.5 kg.
- Storage
- 1TB PCI-E 4.0 SSD
- Battery
- 73WHr 4-Cell Battery
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14-Inch 3K OLED Display 120Hz
- Camera
- 1080P IR Camera With Windows Hello
- Speakers
- 4 integrated speakers
- Colors
- Platinum White
- Network
- Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3
- Weight
- 1.50 Kg
- Brand
- ASUS
- Model
- GA403UV-G14.R94060
- Power
- 180W AC Adapter
- Has an excellent 3K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate
- Comes with a capable CPU/GPU combination despite its form factor
- Has a large 1TB SSD for Black Myth: Wukong
- RAM is soldered on - no upgrades possible
For gamers looking to play Black Myth: Wukong on the go, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a stellar option, offering both a balanced, yet powerful CPU/GPU combination, a large 1TB NVMe SSD, and a relatively compact form factor that makes for a very high PPI display. The G14's defining hardware upgrade for the 2024 iteration is its gorgeous 3K OLED display that offers a high 120Hz refresh rate in tow, making it a treat to play new titles like Black Myth: Wukong.
It does have its quirks, however, including a power-limited GPU given its form factor and the fact that the G14 is without any RAM slots, opting to go for a soldered version of them instead. Users can opt for the more powerful version of the same that comes with an RTX 4070 and doubles its RAM to 32GB instead.
Gigabyte Aorus 17H
Off To A Ray-Traced Adventure
- CPU
- Intel Core i7-13700H
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4080 12GB
- RAM
- 16GB
- Storage
- 1TB
Powered by the Intel Core i7-13700H, Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB storage, the Gigabyte Aorus 17H is a great value option. The laptop features a 17.3-inch FHD 1920x1080 display with a 360Hz refresh rate. It is backed by a massive 99Wh battery and comes with a Thunderbolt and RJ45 port.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Battery
- 99Wh
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 17.3-inch, 1920x1080
- Speakers
- 2x2.5W speakers
- Brand
- GIGABYTE
- Model
- AORUS 17H BXF-74US554SH
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, RJ45 port
- Adaptor and Battery
- 280W
- is one of the cheapest RTX 4080-based gaming laptops
- Has a balanced CPU/GPU combination
- Offers a blisteringly fast 360Hz refresh rate
- 16GB of RAM feels underwhelming for a gaming laptop that costs nearly $2000
Users looking for a faster GPU can opt for the Gigabyte Aorus 17H that pairs an RTX 4080 with a 13th generation Intel Core i7 CPU while offering a display with a high 360Hz refresh rate that could make it a popular choice for gamers looking to play FPS titles or other games competitively down the line.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17H Gaming Laptop comes with adequate RAM and SSD storage for the title itself, but it does feel slightly underwhelming to have 16GB of VRAM in a laptop that is pushing close to the $2k mark currently.
All in all, it still happens to be one of the cheapest gaming laptops that sport an RTX 4080 under the hood at the time of writing and one that is capable of playing Black Myth: Wukong with Ray Tracing turned on at its native resolution.
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) Gaming Laptop
A Budget-Friendly Premium Player
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- Intel Core i7-13650HX
- GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
- RAM
- 16 GB DDR5
If you're after a laptop that runs games well but doesn't cost an arm and a leg, then the ASUS ROG Strix G16 may be the best choice for you. This mid-range modern gaming laptop boasts an impressive 14-core Intel i7 processor and a dedicated RTX 4060 GPU that is capable of handling most modern games on medium to high settings. Also included is a whopping 1TB of SSD storage, meaning you will experience faster start-up and load times on all installed games and programs. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM also helps to keep programs smooth and consistent, creating a luxurious experience that isn't absurdly expensive.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Storage
- 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 16 Inches, 16:10 FHD 165 Hz
- Weight
- 5.51 lbs
- Brand
- ASUS
- Model
- G614JV-AS74
- Colors
- Eclipse Gray
- Memory
- 16 GB DDR5
- Network
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Dimensions
- 13.94 x 0.89 x 10.39 inches
- Offers excellent value for money for its internals
- Comes with excellent thermals under the hood
- Has plenty of SSD space for Black Myth: Wukong
- The accompanying display might feel underwhelming to some users
For users looking at a budget option that does everything without costing an arm and a leg when it comes to playing Black Myth: Wukong, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a clear favorite, offering a powerful CPU/GPU combination, great thermals, and a large 1TB NVMe SSD while being on sale regularly on Amazon, allowing users to pick one up for less.
It does feel slightly underwhelming in the display department. Much of its competition, including other iterations of the G16, offers a 2K resolution display for similar pricing and in the same form factor, something that most gamers would not mind given its underlying hardware, but something that can make a difference when it comes to day to day use of the laptop.
Black Myth: Wukong releases August 20, 2024, for PC and PS5, with an Xbox Series X/S version planned for a later date.
Black Myth: Wukong
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 80%
- Released
- August 20, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Science
- Publisher(s)
- Game Science
WHERE TO PLAY
Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology and based on Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.
You shall set out as the Destined One to venture into the challenges and marvels ahead, to uncover the obscured truth beneath the veil of a glorious legend from the past.
As the Destined One, you shall encounter powerful foes and worthy rivals throughout your journey. Fearlessly engage them in epic battles where surrender is not an option.
Aside from mastering various staff techniques, you can also freely combine different spells, abilities, weapons, and equipment to find the winning strategy that best suits your combat style.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
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FAQ
Q: How much space does Black Myth: Wukong Need on PC?
Black Myth: Wukong requires 135GB of install space on a PC. An SSD is not mandatory but recommended by the developer.
Q: How Much RAM do I need for Black Myth: Wukong?
Black Myth: Wukong requirest a minimum of 16GB of RAM to run smoothly.