Summary
Two of the most hyped games in the gaming space right now areElden Ringwith its upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC andHollow Knight: Silksong, the sequel to 2017’s hit indie Metroidvania. While bothElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC andHollow Knight: Silksongshare a similar history of anticipation and periods of radio silence as fans awaited more news about their releases, the two titles are very different in many ways. One of the most apparent differences between the two is the size of their development teams and their studios' history, which could ultimately affect the maintenance of that hype post-launch.
The dedication of the fan bases forElden RingandHollow Knighthas been impressive during the wait for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC andSilksong, with both games giving fans very little in the way of news for long stretches of time. While the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC forElden Ringhas been confirmed to be released on June 21 this year,Hollow Knight: Silksong’s launch is still up in the air, with little details suggesting when it might be released. The recent listing forHollow Knight: Silksongappearing on the Xbox storefronthas reignited hype for the game, but whether that hype can be sustained after its launch is unknown.
Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Hype Might Die Down Faster than Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree After Release
Hollow Knight: Silksongwas officially announced back in 2019, meaning it has now been in development for at least five years. Compared toElden Ring’s DLC, which was announced in February 2023,Hollow Knightfans have been waiting far longer forSilksongthanElden Ringfans have been for Shadow of the Erdtree. To make matters worse,Hollow Knightfans have a far smaller library of Team Cherry games to play to scratch the itch for moreHollow Knightcontent during the wait forSilksong.
On the other hand,Elden Ringfans have a vastlibrary of FromSoftware titlesto tide them over during the wait for Shadow of the Erdtree. It can be a satisfying experience to go back through the catalog of FromSoftware titles to see how games likeDemon’s Souls, theDark Soulstrilogy,Bloodborne, andSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceinfluencedElden Ring’s design. This large library might also help keep the hype forElden Ringalive after Shadow of the Erdtree’s launch, as players new to FromSoftware games might want to go back and experience these past titles after finishingElden Ringand its DLC.
Team Cherry’s Limited Portfolio Might Impact the Hype for Hollow Knight: Silksong
WhileElden Ringfans might have the luxury of FromSoftware’s expansive library of titles to help ease the wait for Shadow of the Erdtree,Hollow Knightfans are not as lucky, with only the originalHollow Knightand its DLCto play in the meantime beforeSilksong’s launch. Team Cherry is a far smaller developer than FromSoftware, so it’s understandable that the studio would have a smaller portfolio of games for fans to experience. However, players experiencing their games for the first time throughSilksongwill only have the originalHollow Knightto fall back on after beating the game, potentially limiting the length of the game’s post-launch hype.
Hollow Knightdoes have some pretty substantial content available as DLC, with four additional expansions including Godmaster, Lifeblood, The Grimm Troupe, and Hidden Dreams to extend the experience past the base game.Silksongmight also inspire players to check out otherpopular games in the Metroidvania genre, which could scratch a similar itch during the wait forSilkongto release. However, depending on how in-depthSilkong’s content is, the game may not be able to sustain the same amount of post-launch hype asElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion simply due to Team Cherry’s smaller size.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, and adventure through a whole new kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and brought to this unfamiliar world, Hornet must battle foes and solve mysteries as she ascends on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. As the lethal hunter Hornet, journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover ancient secrets tied to your nature and your past.
