How Hollow Knight: Silksong Played the Long Game and “Won”

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The prolonged wait between the announcement and release of “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” announced in 2019, raised concerns about its eventual release due to the long gap between announcement and any concrete proof of the game’s existence. Given the increasing number of cancellations in the gaming industry, there was always a question as to whether “Silksong” would ever see the light of day. Much like “Elder Scrolls VI” and potentially “BioShock 4,” fans had little optimism about any future updates or announcements for “Silksong.

Despite Nintendo hinting at a 2025 release date during their Switch 2 Direct presentation earlier this year, through a quick and easily-missed clip, there was still uncertainty among fans. However, all doubts were put to rest when Team Cherry released an official trailer confirming the game’s launch on September 4th. In the lead up to this announcement, Team Cherry posted updates three times: first in 2019 to announce the game, again two days before the trailer was revealed, and finally with the trailer’s release itself. While this timeline for a video game release might not seem ideal, it could potentially prove extremely successful for Team Cherry.

Hollow Knight Silksong‘s Long Development Might’ve Worked in Its Favor

It’s been over five years since the development of Hollow Knight Silksong began, and during this period, fans eagerly sought updates about the game. Typically, if a game is announced and not released after several years, it may be a cause for concern, but the Hollow Knight community remained resilient. Even those outside of that community, such as myself, found ourselves curious about the sequel. Now that Silksong has officially been announced, both the community and I are excitedly anticipating its release. Despite concerns about the game’s development cycle, everyone is now fully invested in it.

Although I’ve downloaded Hollow Knight on my Xbox through Game Pass, I haven’t had a chance to play it yet. It resides within my ever-growing list of games that I plan to eventually get around to playing. Despite having ample free time since the game joined this list, it has remained untouched, symbolically gathering digital dust. I was aware that Silksong was in development, and after the Nintendo Direct, I knew it would be released this year.

Though Hollow Knight remained unplayed by me all this while, the announcement of September 4th as the release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong has given me a solid push to finally dive into the original game. It’s not just me feeling this way; many gamers who are eagerly awaiting Silksong’s arrival are encouraging others who haven’t played the first one yet with, “Guess it’s time I should check out Hollow Knight then?” And to that, I wholeheartedly agree!

Team Cherry Stumbled Into a Brilliant Silksong Marketing Ploy

Team Cherry’s approach to introducing Silksong was remarkably fortunate, although unintentionally so. The delay between its announcement and release for six years might not have been their plan. With independent game development, there’s a risk in announcing because smaller teams may lack the resources to produce games at a rapid pace. Given the circumstances, it was inevitable that Silksong would take some time to develop, and indeed, it did.

Despite the possibility that things could have gone in their favor with what seems like an intentionally orchestrated situation, confirming the game’s release just two weeks beforehand was a masterstroke. The build-up of excitement had reached unprecedented heights, and delaying the game for six years unintentionally added to the anticipation. However, waiting until mid-August to announce the game’s readiness was a strategically smart move.

Contemplate the eagerness worldwide when Bethesda announces the official reveal of a game like Fallout 5. However, picture the dismay when they announce the game’s release date is two years away. Gamers would have been anticipating for quite some time, and although they know the wait won’t be in vain, the wait would still feel far from over.

As a fervent supporter, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Silksong on September 4th. It seems that the team at Cherry has been meticulously preparing this masterpiece, considering its status as one of the most anticipated indie games ever made. The studio appears to have handled this high-pressure situation flawlessly, a testament to their skill and dedication.

While it’s possible that the hype surrounding Silksong is sky-high, I believe this only bodes well for Team Cherry. A successful launch could mean a significant boost in sales, which would be a triumphant victory not just for them, but for the entire indie gaming community.

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2025-08-30 15:12