Hollow Knight: Silksong’s ‘Development Heaven’ is an Important Lesson

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With the launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong quickly approaching, it’s intriguing to catch a glimpse into just a fraction of the sequel’s development process after seven long years. The original Hollow Knight, in terms of design, is exceptionally good, and if players have a general idea of where to go or how to efficiently navigate their journey through Hallownest, they can usually complete the game within 10-12 hours. However, the additional content and downloadable expansions for Hollow Knight significantly increase its playtime, often pushing it beyond 60 hours, depending on how much time players invest in the Path of Pain, Colosseums, or Pantheons. As for Hollow Knight: Silksong, only Team Cherry and possibly a higher power know exactly what delights await us.

Following a span of seven years, the team behind Hollow Knight: Silksong has kept fans on their toes with only a few intriguing hints in the release date trailer. While specific details about development timeline or events throughout those seven years were scarce, Jason Schreier’s Bloomberg report on Hollow Knight: Silksong offered insights into how Team Cherry’s supposed ‘development hell’ was more accurately a ‘development paradise’. This revelation carries significant implications for the entire video game industry, ranging from indie to AAA projects.

Redefining ‘Development Hell’ for a Modern Age

The video game industry isn’t as straightforward as it once was; many aspects are now more nuanced and uncertain. Trends and assumptions can change quickly, leading to situations where a game might unexpectedly be canceled, as was the fate of the Wonder Woman game and Monolith.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve come to realize that the impact of disappointing game announcements often hinges on the level of openness and transparency from the developers. When developers keep us in the loop about their work, it makes the sting of unfortunate disclosures less intense, especially if more setbacks are anticipated in the future. However, it’s essential to clear up a common misunderstanding: ‘development hell’ is not merely a game being under development for an extended period. Instead, it refers to a situation where the project seems stuck or faces numerous unforeseen challenges and delays.

Instead of ‘development hell’, we refer to this as a lengthy and challenging development process facing multiple obstacles that could possibly postpone or disrupt the release of a specific game. A game being developed for an extended period doesn’t automatically mean it’s in development hell, especially if the process is generally positive and productive.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Recontextualizes ‘Development Hell’ for the Betterment of the Industry

In the development of “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” Team Cherry found themselves immersed in an engaging process, continuously discovering fresh, captivating elements they wanted to include. They acknowledged that if they hadn’t stopped working on the original game when they did, it could have taken significantly more time to complete. Moreover, given the abundance of Pale Ore, Team Cherry likely has enough material for multiple DLCs and possibly even a third “Hollow Knight” game.

It’s probably premature at this point to even contemplate a third part, considering that its predecessor has been in development for nearly a decade. However, if it maintains the same level of inspiring enthusiasm, the wait would undoubtedly be worthwhile.

Regardless of their length or quiet progression, prolonged development cycles can still lead to substantial success and creative satisfaction, a fact that holds true whether it’s indie, AA, or AAA games we’re discussing. The distinction between a game and its studio can often be blurred, especially when considering budget constraints. Many games that garner acclaim in the independent or mid-tier sectors might ultimately find their place among the most admired and respected, such as those celebrated in both the indie and AA realms.

  • Undertale
  • Stardew Valley
  • Celeste
  • Hollow Knight
  • Slay the Spire
  • Vampire Survivors
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Like Delays, Long Development is a Reality Gamers Must Accept and Embrace

It’s common knowledge that a large budget doesn’t automatically lead to a great game, and the same goes for small budgets and poor-quality games. Additionally, it’s important to note that a game’s popularity can be massive, regardless of its budget. The budget or size of a studio often remains unclear when evaluating a game based solely on its quality.

A big budget doesn’t guarantee a fantastic game, and the opposite is also true. Popular games can have varying budgets, and you can’t always tell a game’s budget just by looking at its quality.

This can frequently be about achieving a stunning finish or a distinctive artistic flair (like the buggy whimsy in Hollow Knight), along with a unique central concept (such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s narrative). Different developers seldom follow the same path, particularly as studios evolve to contemporary development methods or discover their groove between projects. Ideally, they strive for a lot of creative liberty and as much time as needed to perfect the product, making it complete and polished at launch while operating smoothly like an oiled machine.

It’s quite possible that Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone might need five years or more to release the game Haunted Chocolatier. However, the story behind the creation of Hollow Knight: Silksong demonstrates how trying to pinpoint or forecast a release date could be misleading. Without Barone openly disclosing any significant challenges or hurdles in creating Haunted Chocolatier, we can’t automatically assume that it’s stuck in development purgatory.

Instead, it’s clear that the development process for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was powerfully fraught with misfortune, as numerous setbacks seemed to plague the project from all sides.

For a span of seven years, Team Cherry diligently and joyfully created Hollow Knight: Silksong, a game that has built immense anticipation among indie game enthusiasts worldwide. The prolonged development process of this game doesn’t necessarily imply it’s stuck in limbo or the notorious “development hell,” a term often used to describe projects that take an extended period to complete, but are subjective and context-dependent.

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2025-08-26 23:47