Hollow Knight: Silksong Release Date Confirmed by Team Cherry—Insights Into Seven Years of Development

Team Cherry, the Australian indie developer celebrated for their critically acclaimed Hollow Knight, has finally announced the highly anticipated release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong.

The long-awaited sequel is set to launch on September 4th, 2024, for Nintendo Switch and other platforms, marking the end of a seven-year development journey that has drawn attention throughout the gaming industry. Hollow Knight: Silksong, which first dazzled fans with its reveal in 2019, has since become one of the most eagerly anticipated indie releases in recent memory.

Team Cherry’s intricate metroidvania design and haunting art style helped the original Hollow Knight achieve widespread acclaim since its 2017 release.

This sequel, starring the agile Hornet, promises expanded gameplay, new environments, and a higher level of challenge—all built with the same craftsmanship that defined its predecessor. In a recent feature by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, co-founders William Pellen and Ari Gibson provided rare insight into the extended development timeline.

According to the studio, the separation from traditional release pressure enabled the team to fully enjoy the creative process, resulting in an abundance of innovative ideas and features.

The team’s dedication to maintaining a healthy work environment, combined with the unexpected challenges brought on by the global pandemic, naturally prolonged production. "Releasing the game is a thrilling milestone," stated William Pellen.

"What comes next for us is just as exciting." Ari Gibson echoed this sentiment, revealing that the studio already has plans for future content updates.

"The most interesting thing now is what we can add to Silksong next.

Admittedly, some ideas are ambitious, but we hope to realize them," Gibson remarked. Pellen further explained that there was a risk of the project expanding indefinitely, noting, "For the sake of completing the game, we had to draw a line.

We could have worked on this forever." Gibson humorously added that he had to eventually stop adding new sketches to prevent development from ballooning into a decade-long endeavor. Addressing the minimal communication over the past few years, Gibson clarified, "We felt that constant updates might dampen excitement, as there wasn't much to share beyond progress itself." Pellen concurred, emphasizing that their primary responsibility was to focus on the game's development rather than public updates—even if the lengthy timeline was unforeseen. With Hollow Knight: Silksong launching in just two weeks, anticipation is at an all-time high.

Early hands-on demos at Gamescom have only heightened expectations, showcasing the sequel’s refined mechanics and expanded world.

As launch day draws near, Team Cherry’s commitment to quality and their methodical approach suggest that the wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong will be well rewarded. Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch, as well as on other major platforms.

Stay tuned for further updates and an in-depth review upon release.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Hollow Knight: Silksong Switch Team Cherry Hollow Knight Hollow Knight Silksong Bloomberg William Pellen Ari Gibson Gamescom