Black Myth: Zhong Kui's Score Took Five or Six Versions to Escape Its Monkey Flavor

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On August 25, 2026, 8082 Audio Studio released a behind-the-scenes video documenting the folk-music recording process for Black Myth: Zhong Kui. The studio, which also worked on Black Myth: Wukong, showed live recording sessions for guzheng, pipa, bamboo flutes, and large drums. Game Science music director Li Jiaqi also confirmed in an IGN interview that the score went through five or six versions.

The shift in direction means Zhong Kui cannot simply follow Wukong's musical approach. Black Myth: Wukong calls for fiery, decisive writing with a forceful, dramatic sound, while Black Myth: Zhong Kui is moving toward a lighter, more humorous style and a more relaxed, storytelling approach. Its music should not make every entrance feel like the start of a final boss fight.

The recording method is the most significant detail. Rather than relying on an existing sample library, 8082 recorded the guzheng, pipa, bamboo flutes, and large drums live, capturing their natural sound with microphones. The performers also adjusted their timing and tone according to the emotional tension of each game scene, capturing the instruments' natural tone rather than relying on a synthetic substitute.

The score's five or six versions show how difficult that separation was. Li Jiaqi said the first draft immediately sounded too much like Wukong, with what he called a strong "monkey flavor." The team responded by trying several new approaches. It matters because action-game music is not just a matter of piling on drums and brass. When the music's character does not match the character on screen, even perfectly timed combat can feel disconnected.

The change in direction is the more revealing detail. Wukong's score pushes players toward an epic confrontation. If Zhong Kui is truly more grounded and closer to everyday life, its music should leave some breathing room in combat and create space for the character's humor. Light does not mean loose, and funny does not have to mean cheap. The difficult part will be finding the exact balance between physical impact and a sense of ordinary life.

The production timeline adds weight to the update. 8082 spent two years completing the music for both games, and Zhong Kui's score went through multiple rounds of revision. The revisions suggest more than a routine audio preview: the team appears to be actively separating the two sound systems. A purchase judgment will have to wait for hands-on play, but players who care about immersion and combat feedback will want to hear how that live-instrument work translates in the finished game.