In 2017, Australian developer Team Cherry’s breakout hit Hollow Knight became a modern classic for its brilliant take on the Soulslike and Metroidvania genres. Shortly afterward, they announced its sequel, Silksong, featuring Hornet as the lead. As soon as the first teaser dropped, fans were hyped. However, as the years went on, news regarding the upcoming game slowed to a halt as many suspected it fell into development hell. Now, a member of Team Cherry has come forward with a vital update on Silksong.
Silksong Gets Update
According to IGN, Team Cherry posted an update regarding their long-awaited sequel, Silksong. The investigation started when Hollow Knight fans saw that Team Cherry’s co-director William Pellen changed his X profile picture to a chocolate cake while tweeting, “Something big is coming.” Furthermore, he changed his handle to “Little Bomey,” which sounded similar to the name of an Australian wine brand. Many fans interpreted this as a promotion strategy.
In response to this speculation, Team Cherry’s publicist Matthew ‘Leth’ Griffin confirmed this was not an ARG or promotional stunt. After praising the fans’ efforts, he flatly confirmed the game was progressing, yet he gave no other information. However, this instance showcases how desperate many fans have become for information on the upcoming game. Given the mysterious nature of Hollow Knight’s lore, the fanbase put their skills to good use. Furthermore, the article highlights the change in console generations since the last game’s launch.
Hollow Knight: A Modern Classic
For those unaware, the original Hollow Knight became one of the most acclaimed indie titles ever when it was released. The game followed a silent insect knight as they delved into a fallen underground kingdom. Alongside its Metroidvania roots, the game was often called “2D Dark Souls” for its difficulty, core mechanics, and esoteric lore. Furthermore, the game had a stellar soundtrack from composer Christopher Larkin.
Shortly after its release, the team released four DLCs, the largest of which were the Godhome and Grimm Troupe expansions. To this day, Hollow Knight remains one of the most influential indie games in recent memory with its iconic mascot, many homages to classic games, and spin on a popular formula. As such, it is no surprise fans would be eager to play its sequel.
The Game’s Tumultuous Development
In 2019, after the original game’s release, Team Cherry announced Silksong. They confirmed the game would follow Hornet, an ally from the original game, into the kingdom of Pharloom. While they showcased several locations and abilities, the rest of the game was shrouded in mystery. The game’s production originally went smoothly as they released a trailer and demo.
However, as the years went on, information on the upcoming game slowed to a halt. In December 2019, right before the lockdowns, updates suddenly stopped. Furthermore, Team Cherry was almost entirely silent at that time. As such, many fans became frustrated with their lack of transparency, leading to the controversy discussed earlier.
It’s important to note that development hell has always been a bad omen for video games and many other art forms. Some examples include Duke Nukem Forever, Final Fantasy XV, and the earlier versions of Cyberpunk 2077. While more time on a project sounds beneficial, this length can include conflicting visions, production issues, and advancing technology overturning their original vision. However, whether an indie game would face the same issues is unknown.
Conclusion
With Silksong trapped in development for so long, it’s no surprise that its fanbase would take any update to the team’s social media to be part of an elaborate marketing campaign. The game itself inspired a generation of theorists and mystery solvers. While game development is a lengthy process that requires patience from fans and creators alike, the time since the last clear update from Team Cherry has frustrated the game’s fanbase. Hopefully, this event will spur Silksong’s team to communicate more forthrightly with its fans.
