Why Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Long Development Could Be Justified: Insights from the Original Game

Hollow Knight: Silksong was first unveiled with an exciting trailer back in 2019, yet since then, Team Cherry has remained relatively tight-lipped about future developments. Following the understated yet impactful success of the original Hollow Knight, which debuted in 2017, this title has solidified its status as a cornerstone of the indie gaming community. Not only did it spark a resurgence of the Metroidvania genre, but it also inspired numerous imitations attempting to capture the unique charm that made Team Cherry’s creation so gripping.

Nevertheless, it’s essential to acknowledge that while the original game achieved brilliance and had a transformative impact on its genre, it also deviated significantly from Team Cherry’s initial vision. The development journey is well-recorded, starting from a game jam project named Hungry Knight, where the character designs of the Knight were first conceived. Understanding the intricacies of the original game’s development might elucidate why the eagerly anticipated sequel is experiencing delays, but it also builds anticipation that the final product will justify this prolonged wait.

The Original Hollow Knight Encountered Delays Too

And Would Have Been Postponed Further If the Budget Permitted

Initially, the vision for Hollow Knight was for it to be a shorter experience, clocking in at approximately 10 hours, with expectations for a 2015 release following a successful Kickstarter campaign. However, the actual release was postponed by an additional two years. Upon its launch, Hollow Knight exceeded its initial vision, emerging as one of the most expansive Metroidvania games of its time, reflecting the ambitious evolution of its design throughout its development.

The concept of Hollow Knight originated during the Ludum Dare 2013 game jam with the project titled Hungry Knight, and another game jam led to the unfinished project Beneath the Surface, which inspired the underground kingdom featured in the game.

Despite the comprehensive nature of the final product, Team Cherry had ambitions for an even grander vision if financial constraints had not intervened. In fact, the team faced monetary challenges that led to a forced release of Hollow Knight in February 2017, a timing that unintentionally coincided with the release of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild just weeks later. This situation necessitated significant content cuts, most notably from the Bone Forest, while previously included areas like Deepnest were scaled down to fit the timeline.

Although it started modestly, Hollow Knight truly gained momentum with its Nintendo Switch launch in June 2018, becoming one of the best-selling indie titles on the platform. This success provided Team Cherry the opportunity to expand the game through free downloadable content, although the previously cut Bone Forest remained absent. However, new areas such as Godhome and The Hive were added, and Team Cherry has boldly asserted that Silksong will surpass these expansions in size, a noteworthy claim given the original’s extensive content.

Silksong’s Development Echoes That of Its Predecessor

But Team Cherry Is No Longer Limited by Budget Constraints

Promotional art for Hollow Knight: Silksong — Custom image by: Ben Brosofsky.

Much like its predecessor, Silksong has experienced significant scope expansion, evolving from what was intended as a simple expansion into a fully fledged game. The ongoing development of Silksong exhibits characteristics mirroring the growth of Hollow Knight. Fortunately, this time, Team Cherry lacks the budgetary and timeframe limitations that previously hindered the project, raising questions about how expansive the game can ultimately become.

First announced on February 14, 2019, Silksong has seen minimal updates over the more than five years since its announcement.

The game is set to revisit elements that were cut from the original, notably allowing the much-anticipated Bone Forest to appear, while also introducing numerous fresh concepts, including musical features tied to Pharloom. If Team Cherry continues its trend of integrating new ideas alongside previously discarded content, the scope of Silksong could potentially double that of its predecessor, possibly matching the expansive narrative length of titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, should the studio not curtail its additions.

The development team, consisting of only three members, has raised concerns similar to those experienced during the making of Hollow Knight. Despite ongoing changes, one vital constant remains: Christopher Larkin continues his role as the composer. Given the large scale of Silksong, the lengthy development timeline is understandable, and it’s curious why the team has not considered adding at least another member to expedite progress, especially in light of the franchise’s popularity.

Why You Shouldn’t Be Concerned About Silksong’s Lengthy Development

The Concern Lies More with the Scope than the Ideas

Gameplay featuring characters from Hollow Knight: Silksong — Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

Rest assured, Silksong will eventually see the light of day. Unlike other projects constrained by indecision, Team Cherry possesses a clear vision for Pharloom, as evidenced by the gameplay footage released thus far, indicating Hornet’s mechanics are nearly complete. Looking back at the development of the original Hollow Knight, it is apparent that Team Cherry aims to enrich the game with a multitude of additions, especially this time without the confining factor of budget restrictions.

The potential complication now is determining how extensive the game will ultimately become, as Team Cherry has previously struggled with establishing boundaries around content creation. The limitations of both budget and time directly influenced the development process of the original title, leading to a two-year delay from its initial release window. There is hope that this time, Team Cherry will recognize when to cease adding features, allowing Silksong to be released within a more reasonable timeframe.

Hollow Knight: Silksong initially aimed for a release in early 2023; however, delays have been attributed to the expanding scope of the project. This mirrors the original Hollow Knight‘s journey from its planned 2015 launch to release, ultimately transitioning into one of the finest titles within the Metroidvania genre. If the development path aligns with that of its predecessor, we could anticipate the release of Silksong this year — a two-year delay from its original target. Whatever the release timeline may be, anticipation remains high, especially considering the enhanced resources at Team Cherry’s disposal this time.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube

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