SSRScientific and Social Research2661-43322981-9946Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.10.26689/ssr.v8i2.14001ArticleA Brief Analysis of the Application of Functional Equivalence Theory in the Game Field — Taking Black Myth: Wukong as an Examplehttps://artdesignp.com/journal/SSR/8/2/10.26689/ssr.v8i2.14001LiuWeigen2026822026-03-18Nowadays, games have become increasingly prominent in influence worldwide and are even hailed as “the ninth art.” Despite the rapid development of China’s economy and technology, the relatively backward development of the electronic game field has made numerous players lament. Black Myth: Wukong, a large-scale role-playing game adapted from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, has attracted widespread attention and acclaim from players around the world upon its release. The game contains a large number of texts rich in Chinese cultural connotations, and translation plays a crucial role in smoothly promoting the game’s internationalization. From the perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory, this paper briefly analyzes the strategies and methods adopted by translators in game text translation, aiming to provide translation practice references for the “internationalization” of Chinese culture.

He CZ, Liu ZZ, 2025, Cross-media Narration and Cultural Communication of Games: Black Myth: Wukong Empowers the Global Communication of Chinese Culture. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 33(1): 33–43. https://doi.org/10.13806/j.cnki.issn1008-7095.2025.01.004

China.org.cn, 2024, Journey to the West (Cultural Interpretation). Accessed on August 29, 2024. https://www.china.org.cn/english/china_key_words/2024-08/29/content_117393749.html

Li XY, Wang H, 2025, A Study on Game Translation of Black Myth: Wukong from the Perspective of Multimodal Discourse Analysis. Open Access Library Journal, 12(3): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1114050

Wang S, 2025, Core Connotation of Functional Equivalence Theory, in Exploration of the Application of Functional Equivalence Theory in Business English Translation Teaching. International Science and Research Publishing Limited. Accessed on September 17, 2025, http://www.issplc.com/upload/pdf/2025/09/17Exploration%20of%20the%20Application%20of%20Functional%20Equivalence%20Theory%20in%20Business%20English%20Translation%20Teaching.pdf

Jiang HQ, 2004, Context and Translation. Foreign Language Research, 21(5): 54–56. https://doi.org/10.13978/j.cnki.wyyj.2004.05.012

Fang LT, 2003, Sunya: An Interpretation of a Buddhist Concept. Journal of Renmin University of China, 2003(6): 55–60. http://xuebao.ruc.edu.cn/CN/Y2003/V/I6/55

Dai Y, 2025, Complex Narrative Structures. In The Value Reconstruction of Traditional Culture in the Modern Game Industry: A Case Study of Black Myth: Wukong. Dean & Francis. Accessed on November 18, 2025, https://www.deanfrancispress.com/index.php/fe/article/download/3554/FE009162.pdf

International Science and Culture Center for Academic Contacts (ISCCAC), 2025, An Integrative Analysis of Trans-cultural Diffusion of Cultural Video Games Based on the Theory of Knowledge Production: A Case Study of Black Myth: Wukong. ISCCAC Official Website, accessed on August 28, 2025, https://www.isccac.org/d/file/articles/2025-08-28/78cf202e87e636cbd348e153eabb7c88.pdf

VG Insights, 2024, Black Myth: Wukong: Global Sales, Player Feedback & Cultural Impact Analysis (2024). VG Insights, accessed on September 16, 2024, https://vginsights.com/reports/black-myth-wukong-global-impact-2024/

People’s Daily, 2025, Data on China’s Game Industry. People’s Daily Digital Edition, accessed on January 27, 2025, https://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/pad/content/202501/27/content_30054211.html