The gaming world has a new reason to celebrate. After an agonizing seven-year development cycle shrouded in a thick veil of secrecy, Team Cherry has finally pulled back the curtain on its highly anticipated sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong. With a confirmed release date of September 4, 2025, the studio’s co-founders, Ari Gibson and William Pellen, have addressed the burning question on every fan’s mind: why did it take so long? In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, they revealed that the lengthy timeline was not due to development hell, but rather a “joyful” and unrestrained creative process that simply refused to stop.
The Evolution of a Colossal Project
The journey of Silksong is a story of ambition and a clear case of “scope creep” in the most positive sense of the term. The game, which was originally conceived as a single piece of DLC for the original Hollow Knight, soon blossomed into a full-fledged sequel. As Gibson explained, the team’s small size and boundless creativity meant that every new idea became a new feature. “It was never stuck or anything. It was always progressing,” Gibson said. “It’s just the case that we’re a small team, and games take a lot of time. There wasn’t any big controversial moment behind it.”
This is a stark contrast to the development woes and crunch culture that plague many AAA studios. With the immense success of the first Hollow Knight—which has sold over 15 million copies since the sequel’s announcement—Team Cherry had the financial freedom to pursue its vision without external pressures or strict deadlines. This allowed the team to continuously expand the game’s scope, adding entire new towns, quest systems, and a massive roster of over 150 new enemies and 40 bosses. This creative freedom, a privilege few developers enjoy, meant that Team Cherry could focus on a single, vital goal: to create a game that was a true successor to its masterpiece predecessor.
More Than a Sequel: A New Standard of Handcrafted Artistry
Silksong is not just a bigger game; it’s a game that promises to be richer in detail and depth. The development team’s passion for their craft is evident in the fact that every new idea, no matter how small, was integrated into the final product. “I remember at some point I just had to stop sketching,” Gibson admitted. “Because I went, ‘Everything I’m drawing here has to end up in the game. That’s a cool idea, that’s in. That’s a cool idea, that’s in.’ You realize, ‘If I don’t stop drawing, this is going to take 15 years to finish.'”
The result is a game that boasts more elaborate bosses, more intricate gameplay systems, and a world where objects react to the protagonist Hornet’s various tools. This attention to detail and a commitment to a fully polished experience were the driving forces behind the long wait. The team’s desire to deliver a truly complete product, one that meets or exceeds the high expectations set by the original, took precedence over meeting a public deadline.
The Impact on the Industry and the Future of Team Cherry
The success story of Hollow Knight: Silksong is a powerful message to the entire gaming industry. It demonstrates that with financial stability and creative control, small teams can produce experiences that rival and even surpass the most well-funded AAA productions. It’s a testament to the power of a “passion project” and a refreshing alternative to the trend of rushed, unfinished releases. Team Cherry’s approach sets a new benchmark for indie development and could inspire a new generation of creators to prioritize quality over speed.
Now, with the release date confirmed and a highly successful pre-launch sales campaign—the game has already sold an impressive 15 million copies—Team Cherry is already looking to the future. The developers have hinted at ambitious post-launch plans, promising to support Silksong with new content for years to come. For fans who have waited patiently, the journey is only just beginning. The wait for Silksong may have been long, but according to Team Cherry, the end result is a testament to the idea that true artistry cannot be rushed.