Well, folks, here we are in 2026, and I'm still buzzing from the glorious release of Hollow Knight: Silksong. We waited what felt like a geological era for Hornet's grand adventure, and boy, did Team Cherry deliver. But you know how us gamers are – no sooner have we conquered the last boss than we start peering into the foggy future, wondering, "What's next?" Turns out, the folks at Team Cherry were quietly pondering that very question themselves, dropping some tantalizing hints in an interview that's only now, post-launch, really getting the spotlight it deserves. It's like finding a secret grub after you thought you'd 100%'d the map!

The heart of the matter comes from a chat Team Cherry's visionary leads, Ari Gibson and William Pellen, had with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (AMCI). You might recall AMCI as the hallowed hall that hosted that amazing Silksong exhibition. This interview was tucked away in a physical book, a real-world collectible that feels perfectly fitting for a studio that crafts such tangible, hand-drawn worlds. In it, Gibson floated a fascinating concept for the series' future. He suggested that if there were ever more games in the Hollow Knight universe, they would follow a "same pattern" where they all "exist alongside one another." This isn't about sequels that render the previous game obsolete; it's about building a constellation of interconnected adventures.

Let me unpack that for a second, because it's a brilliant and player-friendly philosophy. Gibson specifically mentioned that players shouldn't feel "lost" if they jump back to the original Hollow Knight after playing Silksong. Think about that. In an age where sequels often completely overhaul mechanics and lore, Team Cherry is championing continuity and mutual respect between their creations. Each game is its own sovereign kingdom within the larger realm of Hallownest (and beyond!), with its own rules, stories, and heroes, yet they share the same foundational soil. This "alongside" model means:

• No Narrative Obsolescence: The Knight's journey in the Forgotten Kingdom remains vitally important, not just a historical footnote to Hornet's saga.

• Mechanical Harmony: Future games could introduce new abilities and characters without making the old ones feel clunky or outdated by comparison.

• A Living World: It opens the door for stories that might intersect, parallel, or explore completely different corners of the same rich, decaying, beautiful world.

Now, before we all start sharpening our nails for Hollow Knight: Zoteboat or Hollow Knight: Grubfather's Revenge, let's temper our excitement with a heavy dose of reality. As Gibson said, this is a hypothetical discussion. We are, after all, talking about Team Cherry – a studio synonymous with meticulous, painstaking, and gloriously detailed craftsmanship. Silksong itself was a marathon of development. Plus, they're actively working on DLC for Silksong right now, which is sure to add more layers of challenge and lore. So, a brand-new, full-fledged game? I wouldn't hold my breath for a reveal anytime before the next decade, if I'm being honest. But the mere fact that they're thinking in these terms—of a series of coexisting titles—is the most exciting lore fragment I've uncovered since finding the Hunter's Journal.

What could this "alongside" existence look like in practice? Let your imagination (and mine) run wild through the fungal wastes for a moment. We're not necessarily talking about direct sequels. We could get:

• A prequel starring the Five Great Knights of Hallownest in their prime, a more combat-focused, battalion-style adventure.

• A Quirrel-centric mystery game set in the City of Tears, focusing on puzzle-solving and academic exploration.

• A completely different genre, like a turn-based strategy game set during the war against the Radiance, or even a narrative-focused game from the perspective of a simple bug citizen trying to survive the infection.

The beauty of the "alongside" framework is that it liberates Team Cherry. They aren't bound to a single protagonist or a linear timeline. Each game can be a unique vessel, a new kind of vessel, exploring a different facet of this universe they've built. It transforms Hollow Knight from a franchise into a genuine mythos.

So, where does that leave us, the dedicated denizens of this digital underground? In a pretty great place, actually. We have a masterpiece in Silksong to fully explore and upcoming DLC to anticipate. And now, we have this quiet, confident assurance from the creators that the world of Hollow Knight is built to expand, not to be left behind. The future isn't a single path leading away from the past; it's a web of interconnected possibilities, each strand as strong and important as the last. Team Cherry has sown the seeds for a legacy that could grow for years to come. My takeaway? Keep enjoying the incredible games we have, support the DLC, and dream big. Because in the world of Team Cherry, every game has its place, and every bug's story matters. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some more kingdoms to explore... alongside each other, of course. 😉