Black Myth: Wukong Benchmark Tool Released - RTX 4090 Struggles at 4K

BigGo Editorial Team
Black Myth: Wukong Benchmark Tool Released - RTX 4090 Struggles at 4K

Black Myth: Wukong Benchmark Tool Reveals Demanding Requirements

Game Science has released a PC benchmark tool for their highly anticipated action RPG Black Myth: Wukong, giving gamers a chance to test their systems ahead of the August 20th launch. Initial results suggest the game will be extremely demanding, even on high-end hardware.

An engaging depiction of the character from "Black Myth: Wukong," highlighting the fantasy elements of the game ahead of its launch
An engaging depiction of the character from "Black Myth: Wukong," highlighting the fantasy elements of the game ahead of its launch

Key Findings:

  • The benchmark supports ray tracing and upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS
  • At 4K resolution with max settings and ray tracing, even an RTX 4090 struggles to maintain 60 FPS without frame generation
  • Mid-range GPUs like the RTX 4070 can achieve playable framerates at 1440p with DLSS and frame generation enabled
A comprehensive overview of the PC requirements tailored for playing "Black Myth: Wukong," illustrating the necessary specifications for an optimal gaming experience
A comprehensive overview of the PC requirements tailored for playing "Black Myth: Wukong," illustrating the necessary specifications for an optimal gaming experience

Performance Breakdown

Testing reveals Black Myth: Wukong to be incredibly GPU-intensive:

  • RTX 4090 at 4K (max settings + RT):

    • 23 FPS average without DLSS
    • 44 FPS with DLAA (no upscaling)
    • 74 FPS with DLSS Quality + Frame Generation
  • RTX 4070 at 1440p (max settings + RT):

    • 74 FPS with DLSS Quality + Frame Generation

These results indicate that even top-tier GPUs will need to leverage upscaling and frame generation techniques to achieve smooth gameplay at higher resolutions.

A snapshot of benchmark results for "Black Myth: Wukong," showcasing the game’s performance across various graphics settings
A snapshot of benchmark results for "Black Myth: Wukong," showcasing the game’s performance across various graphics settings

Benchmark Features

The tool offers extensive graphics options, including:

  • Support for NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, and a custom TSR upscaler
  • Ray tracing settings (NVIDIA GPUs only)
  • Customizable quality presets for textures, shadows, anti-aliasing, and more

A pre-shader compilation process is included, which may cause issues for some Intel CPU users. Workarounds involve using Intel Baseline profiles or manual underclocking.

What's Missing?

While visually impressive, the benchmark lacks combat sequences seen in promotional materials. This absence raises questions about performance during more intensive gameplay moments, which may be more demanding than the current benchmark suggests.

Conclusion

The Black Myth: Wukong benchmark demonstrates the game's stunning visuals and technical ambition. However, it also highlights the steep hardware requirements needed to fully experience the game at higher resolutions and quality settings. Gamers with mid-range systems may need to make significant compromises or consider upgrading their hardware to fully enjoy this visually striking title.

As we approach the August 20th release date, we eagerly await further optimization and the opportunity to see how the full game performs across a wider range of systems.