Team Cherry Teases New Games Beyond Hollow Knight Universe

Gaming's most anticipated sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, continues to generate immense buzz, but its celebrated creators, Team Cherry, are already looking far beyond Pharloom. In a rare and candid interview, lead developers Ari Gibson and William Pellen shared intriguing insights into their plans post-Silksong, revealing ambitions for entirely new gaming experiences while assuring fans their signature design philosophy will remain firmly intact.

Team Cherry's Vision Beyond Silksong

The indie darlings at Team Cherry, the acclaimed studio behind the monumental Hollow Knight, recently offered a glimpse into their creative future following the highly anticipated release of Hollow Knight: Silksong. While a specific DLC for Silksong is confirmed to be in the pipeline somewhere along the line, the Australian studio remains incredibly tight-lipped about the exact specifics of what comes next. However, during a revealing conversation with Bloomberg, co-directors Ari Gibson and William Pellen shed critical light on their long-term aspirations and the potential for new intellectual properties.

New Worlds Await: Developer Time Constraints & Ambitions

Discussing how they envision allocating their precious development time after Silksong's launch, Gibson articulated a surprisingly poignant and relatable concern: the finite nature of a developer's career lifespan. "We do have other games that we plan to make," Gibson stated. "The only time concern really is – and we've talked about this before – death." He elaborated on the daunting reality of extensive game development cycles, noting, "It's not that far off if you spend seven years per project, and potentially add another two. So it'd be nice to do a few more games. Apparently our timeframe still allows us to fit a few more in. Short of an unexpected tragedy." This candid reflection underscores the studio's deep desire to explore multiple creative avenues and bring several more ambitious projects to fruition.

Signature Design: Big Worlds, Weird Characters, Giant Bosses

While Team Cherry is keen to venture into fresh intellectual properties, Gibson emphasized that future projects, regardless of their specific setting or narrative, will carry a distinct and familiar creative thread. Fans can anticipate experiences centered around "exploring big worlds full of weird characters and giant bosses and whatnot." This "through line," as Gibson describes it, suggests a foundational design philosophy that will permeate all their future endeavors, echoing the distinct artistry seen in titles by other renowned auteurs. The studio aims to explore their established tastes in "a slightly different genre, slightly different theme," offering fresh perspectives on their core design tenets of exploration, mystery, and challenging combat.

The Enduring Appeal of Hallownest

Despite their eagerness for new challenges and entirely new universes, Gibson confirmed that the team is far from weary of their beloved Hollow Knight universe. When directly asked if they were tired of working on the series, Gibson responded, "not at all," even stating he'd be content to create another Hollow Knight title if circumstances required it. This enduring commitment to their established IP, coupled with the vibrant desire for fresh ventures, paints a picture of a studio brimming with creative energy and a robust long-term vision. Fans can rest assured that while groundbreaking new experiences are on the horizon, the spirit of grand exploration and unforgettable boss encounters that defined Hollow Knight will undoubtedly endure in whatever Team Cherry crafts next.