Hades 2 isn’t expected to come out on the PC until late 2024 or early 2025.
- Supergiant Games’ commitment to enriched content and regular updates has amplified the hype for Hades 2.
- On the other hand, Team Cherry’s silence and lack of clarity is disappointing fans who once look forward to Hollow Knight: Silksong.
- Neither Hades 2 nor Hollow Knight: Silksong have a final release date.
The popularity rankings for independent games are undergoing a seismic upheaval right now, with Supergiant Games’ Hades 2 surpassing Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight: Silksong to take the top spot on Steam‘s Wishlist.
Hades 2’s ascent is due to its recent announcement of early access, which captivated players of the first roguelike game and created a lot of excitement for its eventual full release. Meanwhile, due to its still-undetermined release date and scant developer contact, the once-dominant Hollow Knight: Silksong has witnessed a slowdown in its pace.
When it was ultimately released on the PC two years ago, Supergiant Games’ Hades—the forerunner of Hades 2—left a lasting impression on gamers by fusing a complex story with engaging gameplay mechanics. Its powerful combination enthralled viewers and cemented its place in indie history. As such, the announcement of a follow-up was sure to be welcomed. When combined with Supergiant’s assurance that the launch edition of Hades will have more content than the early access version, it’s hardly shocking that Hades 2 is creating more buzz than its predecessor. It also doesn’t hurt that the developer’s policy of providing fans with updates has accelerated the game’s ascent in wishlist rankings and opened the door for a release window that is anticipated for Q2 2024.
The unfortunate news is that Hollow Knight: Silksong, the sequel to one of the greatest video games ever made, has experienced such a setback. It isn’t simply that it is currently ranked second; the public’s perception has shifted from one of optimism to one of hopelessness.
The fact that Hollow Knight: Silksong, like the original game, will utilize the Unity Engine—which has undoubtedly seen better days—will only make things worse.
Positively, a game like Hollow Knight: Silksong benefits from the hype—or lack thereof. History demonstrates how quickly fans can become enthralled with eagerly awaited games after they are released. Conversely, we applaud efforts like Remnant 2 and, most notably, Baldur’s Gate 3, which have received little to no publicity or buzz outside of word-of-mouth. In turn, the muted anticipation might provide Team Cherry with the breathing room and quiet it requires to produce a good sequel to Hollow Knight, more than six years after the original release.
Naturally, a game’s quality or reception cannot be determined by looking at Steam’s Wishlists chart. Party Animals, for instance, had conflicting reviews after its debut despite occupying a prominent spot on the same ranking.
Ultimately, although taking different development paths, Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong show a robust independent game industry amid the financial challenges larger producers confront due to the skyrocketing expenses of game creation.