Okay, so remember when we all thought that Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight, was basically done, just waiting for the mythical day Team Cherry pressed the “publish” button? Yeah, me too. We were so innocent then. Because apparently, according to recent whispers from the developers themselves- and let’s be honest, “whispers” is about all we ever get from them- they’re actually adding more content to the game. More. Not less. Not polishing what’s there. Adding.

Now, you might think, “More content? That’s great! More to play!” And yes, in a vacuum, that’s undeniably true. Who doesn’t want more of a good thing, especially when that good thing is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated indie games ever? But given the radio silence, the endless delays, and the sheer, agonizing wait we’ve been enduring since the game was first revealed, this news comes with a hefty side of existential dread. It’s like finding out your gourmet meal, which has been marinating for years, is now getting another ingredient added… but they still won’t tell you when it’ll hit the table.

The Eternal Delay-o-sphere: What’s Really Going On?

For years, folks have been joking, or rather, coping, with the non-release of Silksong. It’s become a bit of a meme, hasn’t it? A game so perpetually unreleased that it’s practically ascended to mythical status, right up there with Half-Life 3. Every gaming showcase, every Nintendo Direct, we collectively hold our breath, clinging to the smallest hint, the most microscopic glimmer of a release date. We even had that false alarm earlier this year, remember? The one where it was basically confirmed for the first half of 2023. That was a gut punch. A real doozy, as my grandma would say.

A Moving Target, or Just an Evolving Vision?

So, the latest scoop-and I use “scoop” loosely here because it’s more like a drip from a very slow faucet-is that Team Cherry confirmed in an email to a journalist (the lucky duck) that they’re indeed baking in extra stuff. Not just minor tweaks, mind you, but legitimate content. Apparently, the game became “quite a bit bigger” than they initially planned. Which, honestly, isn’t that uncommon in game development. Scope creep is a real beast, a hungry, ravenous beast that devours dev schedules whole.

• Point: Team Cherry is actively developing new content for Silksong.
• Insight: This implies the game was not ‘done’ even when projected for a 2023 release, or they’ve significantly expanded their vision since then.

It’s a double-edged sword, this news. On one hand-more game! On the other- even longer wait, presumably. And for a community that’s already shown the patience of saints, you have to wonder where the breaking point is, or if there even is one anymore. We’re all just kind of in it for the long haul now, aren’t we? Like waiting for that one friend who’s perpetually “five minutes away” to actually show up to the party.

The Silksong Paradox: More Game, Less Information

Here’s where it really gets interesting, or rather, maddening. Team Cherry, bless their perfectionist hearts, is notorious for their secrecy. They don’t do regular dev blogs. They don’t pump out social media updates like clockwork. They just… work. In the shadows. Like tiny, artistic ninja developers. Which, for Hollow Knight, worked out beautifully-the game was a masterpiece. But for a highly anticipated sequel, this approach really grates on the nerves of an impatient fanbase.

The “It’ll Be Ready When It’s Ready” Mantra – A Blessing or a Curse?

They’ve basically adopted the “it’ll be ready when it’s ready” philosophy, which, look, I get it. Nobody wants a rushed, broken game. Cyberpunk 2077 taught us all that lesson pretty harshly. But there’s a difference between not rushing and keeping your audience in a state of perpetual limbo. A little communication goes a long way, don’t you think? Even just a “hey, we’re still alive, things are going well, still adding stuff, probably won’t be out this year, thanks for your patience.” That’d be something, wouldn’t it?

“We’re excited by how the game is shaping up, and it’s gotten quite a bit bigger than we first envisioned.” – Team Cherry (via an Engadget report from the Summer Game Fest 2023 press release from Xbox and Bethesda)

That quote, right there, encapsulates the whole thing. Bigger. Great. But also, ‘no release date in sight, thanks for asking.’ It’s a classic example of managing expectations by basically offering none. Which, tactically, might be smart. If you never promise a date, you can’t miss it. But it also leaves us, the waiting faithful, adrift in a sea of speculation and fan theories. Remember the “bait and switch” jokes from the Nintendo Directs? They’re less funny now, aren’t they?

What Does This Mean for Us, the Patient (and Impatient) Fans?

Well, primarily, it means more waiting. That’s the obvious takeaway. But it also means that when Silksong does eventually arrive-and I’m a firm believer it will, eventually, in the distant future, perhaps after the heat death of the universe-it’s probably going to be a colossal game. A sprawling, epic adventure even more massive than the original Hollow Knight, which was already a huge game by any standard. Think about it: a 2D metroidvania with even more finely crafted areas, bosses, lore, and secrets. That’s a truly intoxicating thought.

But the psychological toll, my friends, is real. Every rumor, every slight update, every non-update, it’s a rollercoaster. Should we just forget about it until it drops? That’s what some folks say. “Live your life, it’ll come when it comes.” And that’s sound advice, really. But for those of us who absolutely adored Hollow Knight, who’ve spent untold hours exploring Hallownest, learning every boss pattern, finding every secret, forgetting about Silksong feels a bit like forgetting a part of ourselves. It’s ingrained now.

So, here we are. Still waiting. Still hoping. And now, armed with the knowledge that the game is growing, expanding, becoming even more gargantuan than we imagined. It’s a strange kind of solace, isn’t it? Knowing it’s getting bigger. Because bigger usually means better, at least in this context, right? Or does it just mean longer? Only Team Cherry knows, and they’re certainly not telling. I guess we’ll just keep polishing our cloaks, sharpening our needles, and preparing for an adventure that might, just might, be worth all this agonizingly long, content-adding wait. Whenever it eventually arrives. Whenever.