After a long wait, Team Cherry has officially announced that their highly-anticipated sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, will be released next month! But don’t fall for the rumors—this game hasn’t been in ‘development hell’ for seven years; instead, the developers have been relishing every moment of its creation.

Since the announcement of Silksong in 2019, sales of the original Hollow Knight have surged from 2.8 million to a staggering 15 million copies. This spectacular sales boost has granted Team Cherry the financial freedom to take their time and craft the sequel to perfection.

What started as a mere expansion for Hollow Knight quickly evolved into a standalone adventure, and in February 2019, Team Cherry confirmed it would be a full sequel. Co-founder Ari Gibson remarked, “At that point, we realized this was turning into something as grand as Hollow Knight, if not larger.” Little did they know, their dedication to the project would stretch over six or seven years!

Gibson clarified, “It was never in limbo. Our progress was steady. We’re just a small team, and great games take time. There weren’t any major roadblocks. The creative process allowed us to flourish.”

The phenomenal increase in sales created a hype loop: rising anticipation for Silksong spurred sales for the original game, allowing Team Cherry more development time, which, in turn, whipped up even more excitement. Gibson remarked, “We’re incredibly lucky. It’s a privilege to work in such an environment.”

With a relaxed timeline and ample funds, Team Cherry has sharply contrasted with other studios that rush for revenue amid rising development costs, often leading to significant layoffs in the industry. Instead, Team Cherry has maintained a tight-knit, enjoyable work environment.

“We’ve been having fun throughout this journey,” Gibson shared. “This project is really just a vehicle for our creativity. Watching ideas come to life so quickly is immensely gratifying.” Co-founder William Pellen added, “We’re bursting with ideas—new items, areas, and bosses. We could have kept going infinitely!”

The drive for meticulous polish has also fueled prolonged development. Gibson expressed, “We often misjudge the time and effort needed to perfect our visions. However, because we're enjoying the process, it never feels like a burden.”

Pellen chimed in, “There’s a level of completeness we strive for in every aspect of the game, and as we build upon our ideas, the interconnectedness of it all amplifies the complexity of the development process.”

As enthusiasts brace for the grand unveiling, it’s clear that the journey behind Hollow Knight: Silksong is as remarkable as the game itself.