Get ready for a heated debate, because the developers of Hollow Knight: Silksong are making waves with their decision to potentially skip The Game Awards 2025!
In a surprising move, Team Cherry's co-founders, Ari Gibson and William Pellen, have hinted that they might not be attending the prestigious event, despite their game being nominated for the coveted Game of the Year title.
While the competition is fierce, with six incredible games vying for the top spot, the real battle, for many gamers, is between Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong. And here's where it gets interesting - the developers themselves seem to be predicting their own defeat!
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Pellen admitted that the team is "pretty busy" and hasn't decided on their attendance yet. Gibson added that Expedition 33 has a broader appeal, while Silksong, with its unique style, might not be everyone's cup of tea.
But is this a case of humble bragging or a genuine lack of confidence?
Let's break it down. Silksong shares four out of its five nominations with Clair Obscur, including the Best Action/Adventure Game category, which is a standalone award. This means that even if Expedition 33 dominates in other aspects, Silksong could still snatch this prestigious title.
And here's the kicker - the Best Action/Adventure Game category often comes with a grand ceremony, where developers are invited on stage to accept their award. So, if Silksong wins and no one shows up, it would be a missed opportunity for the team to celebrate their achievement.
Now, the other four categories where both games are nominated - Game of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, and Best Independent Game - are a different story. With Silksong being one of the most highly anticipated and wishlisted games in recent memory, it's a bit surprising that its developers seem to be throwing in the towel.
Most people agree that Expedition 33 is the favorite to win, but here's the twist - The Game Awards jury is primarily made up of gaming journalists and news outlets with little connection to the gaming world. So, the opinions of regular gamers don't carry much weight.
Remember when Astro Bot beat Black Myth: Wukong in 2024? It just goes to show that predicting the winner is a tricky business, and anything could happen this year too.
So, why is Team Cherry hesitant to attend? Is it a matter of time and financial constraints, similar to the reasons cited by the GDC founder for the conference's decline?
What do you think? Is Team Cherry being too pessimistic, or are they onto something? And who's your Game of the Year pick for 2025? Let us know in the comments!
Don't forget to check out our latest digital art courses, subscribe to our newsletter, and join our talent platform for more gaming insights and discussions!
