The success of Hollow Knight: Silksong has left its developers, Team Cherry, with a glowing reputation and a host of accolades. However, amidst the praise, a question lingers: what does the future hold for this talented studio?
In an interview with Bloomberg, the Adelaide-based team opened up about their next steps, revealing a treasure trove of ideas but no concrete plans. The only obstacle, as studio co-founder Ari Gibson sees it, is the ultimate time constraint - death itself.
Death as a Motivator
'We have other games in mind,' Gibson shared. 'The only real concern is time, and specifically, death. If each project takes seven years, and potentially adds another two, it's not an unrealistic worry.'
Hollow Knight: Silksong was a labor of love, a seven-year journey that the studio didn't initially anticipate. The desire to create a fully realized world led to this extended development cycle.
Studio co-director William Pellen admitted they haven't fully considered the time commitment for their next project, but the ideas are flowing.
This leaves the timeline for the future uncertain, yet the studio is acutely aware of their limitations and the finite number of ideas they can bring to life.
Exploring New Horizons
Team Cherry hasn't officially announced their next project, but they've expressed a desire to venture beyond the world of Hollow Knight. While they still want to create games with 'big worlds, weird characters, and giant bosses,' they don't want to be solely defined by Hollow Knight.
Gibson and Pellen assured that they have plenty of ideas and new worlds to explore. It's not about escaping the Hollow Knight universe, but rather, the excitement of discovering new creative avenues.
'Making another Hollow Knight right now would be a joy,' Gibson said. 'But it'd be fascinating to explore our interests in a different genre or theme and see how that influences our storytelling. We're eager to find out ourselves.'
For now, it seems likely that Team Cherry's next game will diverge from Hollow Knight, while still drawing on similar creative principles.
The studio remains focused on Silksong in the near future, exploring ways to enhance the experience and expand its world. They plan to keep their next steps under wraps, but players can expect updates soon.
As with all things Team Cherry, patience is key. Stay tuned to discover what the future holds for this innovative studio.
