Highlights
Hollow Knight: Silksong has faced multiple delays, including the pandemic, high quality standards, and unforeseen issues, leading to a prolonged wait for fans.
Hollow Knight fans eagerly await Silksong, holding onto the belief that it will deliver the same enchanting world and gameplay, this time with Hornet as the lead character.
Coincidentally, Elden Ring by FromSoftware shares a similar pre-release journey with long stretches of silence, fostering a shared experience of anticipation. This pattern persists with Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, seemingly prolonging its release date.
The wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong has been long and challenging, and there is still no sign of its release. Hollow Knight fans have eagerly awaited news of a release date for several years since its initial announcement in February 2019. Unfortunately, the game has faced setbacks due to the pandemic, strict quality standards from Team Cherry, and other unforeseen delays. Despite occasional updates from the developers and testers, including a surprise trailer in mid-2022, Hollow Knight: Silksong still feels far from being launched.
Hollow Knight made a lasting impression, captivating fans and earning its reputation as one of the best 2D Soulslike games ever created. The prospect of returning to its beloved world and gameplay, this time with Hornet as the protagonist in Silksong, feels like a dream come true. The game is expected to meet these high expectations when it finally releases. But, until then, the wait continues, and Hollow Knight fans are not alone. FromSoftware's recent Elden Ring also faced a similar wait, and its upcoming DLC is following a similar path.
Similarities Between Silksong and Shadow of the Erdtree Are Abundant
The anticipation for Hollow Knight and Elden Ring among Souls fans is filled with irony. The similarities between Silksong and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion are undeniable. Originally, Silksong was conceived as a Kickstarter stretch goal for the original Hollow Knight, with the intention of introducing Hornet as a playable character. However, due to the increasing scope of the game, Hornet's DLC was developed as a standalone game instead. It has received the same level of attention to detail as its predecessor.
Although Shadow of the Erdtree won't be considered as Elden Ring 2, it may give off a similar vibe based on FromSoftware's reputation for exceptional DLC content. The prolonged absence of information since its announcement has led fans to speculate that the expansion will contain enough content to match one or two regions from the base Elden Ring game. This amount of content alone would be equivalent to that of a standalone Souls game, and considering Elden Ring's already massive size, fans are willing to endure yet another waiting period. In the meantime, games such as Armored Core 6 and indie titles like Blasphemous 2 have provided solace for Souls fans, but the absence of Shadow of the Erdtree and Silksong has become closely associated with both games.
Elden Ring and Hollow Knight Share Histories Full Of Waiting
Elden Ring's pre-release period was almost as agonizing as Silksong's. After its announcement trailer in 2019, the game went silent for years until a leaked trailer and a subsequent reveal in June 2021 announced its impending launch. Despite the delay, network tests and continuous marketing efforts kept the hype alive. Interestingly, FromSoftware has adopted a similar strategy for their upcoming game, Shadow of the Erdtree, by announcing it in early 2023 and then going quiet once again.
Although Elden Ring is already released, it finds itself in the same situation as Hollow Knight: Silksong. Both games chose to reveal themselves early on and only heavily market themselves when development nears completion. It's intriguing to see these prominent Soulslikes playing hard-to-get with their communities. The only remaining escalation would be if Silksong surpasses Shadow of the Erdtree and releases before it becomes outdated. Nevertheless, it is worth keeping tabs on both games, even if their reveal timing could have been adjusted.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.