Summary
Since its initial announcement, people have been eagerly awaiting more news aboutHollow Knight: Silksong, only to haverumors about a potential release datebe dashed when nothing occurs. However, Nintendo has dropped a piece of news that, when mixed with the gaming events that are about to happen, could finally turn things around.
The originalHollow Knightgame came out in 2017, anditwas instantly dubbed a classic and even a masterpiece by some critics. The game took theMetroidvania genreand wrapped it around a new and fascinating bug-themed world that had numerous layers and nuances to make the game stand out from others like it. Its success was so immediate that, after releasing several DLCs for the game,Silksongwas announced in February 2019, first as a DLC package and then as a true sequel to the hit title. Since then, developer Team Cherry has been mostly silent about it.
Stylish New Steam Game Is Perfect For People Waiting For Hollow Knight: Silksong
There’s no substituting for Silksong, but Hollow Knight fans could definitely find some fun in a new game that’s blazing its own trail.
A Silksong Announcement May Be Coming In June
A Free Trial For Hollow Knight Points The Way
However, things could be changing. The X (formerly Twitter) handle forNintendo of Europerevealed that a special Nintendo Switch Online trial for the originalHollow Knightis currently going on and will last until June 12. The key thing to note is that while this trial is timed on the date, it’s not timed on the gameplay aspect. As such, people who get this trial could beat the entire game before the trial ends – not including the DLC.
As multiple people on the X post stated, this could be a sign thatHollow Knight: Silksongis about to get an announcement. First and foremost,Summer Game Fest’s opening livestream is Friday, June 7, and that means that the game could be one of the many reveals for Geoff Keighley’s event. Keighley himself has been rather low-key about what the event will have, even saying that the games at the show will drop in 2023 for the most part. That could mean that ifSilksongis there, it’ll be released soon. It’s not a guarantee, though.
The other thing to consider is that even if the game isn’t at the Summer Game Fest, it could make a showing at theimpending Nintendo Direct(or, alternatively, the Xbox Showcase on June 9), which is already confirmed to be happening in June. As noted byMetacritic, the originalHollow Knightwas rated the highest on Switch, and so that could be the reason that Team Cherry will want to drop an announcement for the platform that has arguably been the most kind to the series so far. Plus, given the state of the Nintendo Switch’s 2024, it would be a standout reveal.
The Development Cycle of Silksong
How An Announcement From 2019 Slowly Extended Into 2024
The true mystery ofHollow Knight: Silksongis that,despite it being announced all the way back in 2019, the game still isn’t here, and it’s unclear as to why it’s taking so long. As noted, it originally was supposed to be a piece of DLC for the original game, but then shifted to being a fully-fledged title after Team Cherry saw something special within it. The studio has been working on it ever since, but updates, trailers, and clues as to its release have been minuscule at best, which has frustrated those who are eagerlywaiting for the Metroidvania-style title.
There was a three-year gap between updates until Team Cherry returned in 2022 to announce that the game was still being worked on. To make matters more confusing, despite saying they were still in development, Team Cherry didn’t show new content for some time, only promising to make announcements as things got closer to launch. Then, in June 2022, during an Xbox Showcase, a trailer for the game dropped, along with news of it being on Xbox Game Pass at launch and that the release date would be within the next year. However, that didn’t work out.
About a month before the self-imposed deadline, May 2023, Team Cherry officially delayed the game, bringing more frustration and confusion to those excited about getting their hands on the new title. A meaningful update hasn’t been provided since. That’s why there is speculation that this Nintendo Switch Online free trial could point to a big reveal within the next week or so.The trial could be seen as a marketing tool to get people to try the original game, buy it if they can’t finish in time, and then be ready for the sequel.
The Mystery Behind Silksong
Questions About Delays, Game Size, & More
The big question is: why the delays? The easiest answer is that Team Cherry is trying to makeSilksongas great as possible to not just live up to the team’s own potential, but to live up to the legacy of the original game. Another answer is that the crew is trying to make the game as big as possible, which would take plenty of time to work out the bugs before release. That could be a risk, though, and it might even be adouble-edged sword upon release, should it not pan out.
Silksongwill feature a new protagonist with different moves and abilities than the original game.
It should be said clearly thatthis is just speculation. It’s entirely possible that there won’t be an update forSilksongduring the month of June, and thus, the wait for it will continue. However, this free trial, as simple as it may be, is something to hold out hope for. The timing of it is suspicious at best and convenient at worst. The hype forHollow Knight: Silksongis already at record highs, so dropping an announcement during the biggest game period of the summer would be a wise way to get people anticipating its impending arrival.
Source:Nintendo of Europe/X,Metacritic
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-anticipated sequel to Hollow Knight, the 2017 indie action-adventure Metroidvania hit. In Silksong, players will take on the role of Princess Hornet, a far more agile and combat-ready hero than the Knight in the previous title, with a stronger emphasis on aerial combos and gameplay. Stuck in a new strange land, Hornet will battle her way through all-new environments outside of Hollownest to find her way back while saving this new kingdom.
