Hey, fellow PC builder. Let me tell you about a little hardware mystery that still makes me smile in 2026: the MSI Black Myth: Wukong graphics card that popped up online back in June 2024. At the time, I was deep in my soulslike hype cycle, counting bosses, rewatching trailers, and wondering whether my rig could handle another Unreal Engine 5 showcase. Then a leak dropped, and suddenly I wasn't just thinking about frame rates—I was thinking about backplates, branding, and whether MSI had a secret collab up its sleeve.
The leak that started the monkey business
Four years had passed since Game Science published the original teaser for Black Myth: Wukong. Four years! In that time, anticipation had grown from a quiet curiosity into a full-blown action-RPG obsession. Leaks about the huge amount of bosses had soulslike fans like me counting down the days until August 20, 2024. Tech brands were preparing too. Just like Elden Ring had inspired custom hardware, a Black Myth: Wukong branded graphics card was spotted in the wild.
MSI didn't officially share it on any social media channel. Instead, images of the custom GPU were revealed on X/Twitter by user hongxing2020. Multiple angles of the alleged MSI graphics card appeared, and it looked like an all-black MSI RTX 40 Expert. That was enough to get my imagination running. Was this an official tie-in? A regional exclusive? A very expensive art project?
Subtle branding, big questions
Unlike other MSI collabs—like the Monster Hunter GPU that goes all out in its theming—the Black Myth: Wukong branding was subtle. From the five images shared, there were zero logos from the upcoming game. Instead, key art featuring the 'Destined One' monkey protagonist was printed on the backplate. It was stunning, sure, but that subtlety made me suspicious. This could likely be a personalized GPU rather than an official product.
When tech site Videocardz asked the original poster whether it was a 'custom or a new model,' user hongxing2020 replied with 'maybe…' That single word added speculation fuel to the fire. I remember staring at that reply like it was a cryptic riddle from a hidden boss. 'Maybe' is not a confirmation, but it's not a denial either. In leak culture, 'maybe' is practically a marketing campaign.
| Detail | What we saw |
|---|---|
| Brand | MSI |
| Model hinted | RTX 40 Expert, likely 4080 Super class |
| Theme | Black Myth: Wukong |
| Visual | Destined One monkey protagonist on backplate |
| Logos | None visible in five shared images |
| Source | hongxing2020 on X/Twitter |
| Status | Unconfirmed, with a teasing 'maybe…' |
Why the Expert line mattered
The Expert line of GPUs brings a new design and cooling to the powerful 4080 Super GPU, as well as a reduced cost from the original 4080 price point. So even without the Wukong paint job, this card was interesting. I care about thermals, noise, and whether my case can breathe. A blacked-out Expert card with custom art on the backplate? That's the kind of thing I'd show off through a tempered glass panel.
MSI presumably wasn't ready to announce the GPU just yet. Wukong wasn't slated to release until August 20, 2024, so we expected concrete news in the coming weeks. And now, writing from 2026, I can look back with a mix of nostalgia and amusement. The game did launch. It became a phenomenon. The conversation around it moved from teaser trailers to boss strategies, performance benchmarks, and whether your GPU could handle full ray tracing and DLSS.
What I think now in 2026
As far as I can tell, that exact MSI Black Myth: Wukong Expert card never became the mainstream retail SKU I hoped for—or at least it remained a tantalizing leak rather than the headline collab I expected. That's the thing about hardware leaks: sometimes they're prototypes, sometimes they're fan mods, and sometimes they're real products that never leave a certain region. The 'maybe…' still echoes.
But here's what I love about this story. It captures a specific moment in PC gaming: the hype before a massive release, the way hardware brands try to tap into our excitement, and the community's endless appetite for custom graphics cards. In 2026, Black Myth: Wukong is no longer a countdown on my calendar. It's a finished game with a legacy. Yet I still think about that all-black Expert card and the Destined One staring back from the backplate.
If MSI ever decides to revive the idea—maybe for a sequel, a DLC, or an anniversary edition—I'll be first in line. Until then, I'll keep my fingers crossed, my case airflow optimized, and my 'maybe' detector on high alert. 🐒🎮
Would I buy a Wukong-themed GPU today? Honestly, yes. If it had the Expert cooling, a subtle backplate, and enough VRAM for 4K, I'd be tempted. That's the power of a good leak. It doesn't just show you a product; it shows you a possibility. And in 2026, possibilities are still what make PC building fun.