The release of Hollow Knight: Silksong has created significant waves in the gaming industry, notably eliciting criticism from Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, the creative director behind Hell is Us. Following years of anticipation, Silksong finally launched early September, marking it as a noteworthy indie release.

Rumors about Hollow Knight’s sequel surged earlier in the year, culminating in Team Cherry announcing a September 4 release date. The excitement felt by fans was palpable, yet some negative impacts soon followed. Jacques-Belletête acknowledged the frustrations and unpredictability faced by game studios during this time, particularly with their own title sharing a release date with the highly-anticipated Silksong. He described the launch strategy as “a little callous,” noting that his team decided to proceed with their release despite the implications.

Jacques-Belletête stated, “We’re still much bigger than some of the smaller ones who would have gotten a lot more affected…” Some titles impacted by Silksong’s release include Baby Steps, Little Witch in the Woods, Demonschool, and Faeland.

Despite the competitive landscape, Hell is Us is receiving positive feedback for its exploration and gameplay, making it a strong contender for players in the spooky season.