Hollow Knight: Silksong Faces Review Bombing Over Localization

Hollow Knight: Silksong is receiving praise from critics and players, yet not everyone is pleased with Team Cherry's anticipated sequel, and it is unrelated to gameplay.

Currently, the Steam page for Hollow Knight: Silksong shows a 'Mixed' rating.

The game is facing criticism from Chinese players due to inadequate localization.

Chinese players have expressed on social media that the translation reads like a Wuxia novel rather than conveying the game's tone. One user stated, "This is not about effort, but about taste and direction, and likely cannot be fixed without replacing the translator."

Additionally, one individual used DeepSeek AI, noting that "While AI has limitations, its translation is undoubtedly far superior to the translator hired."

Only 44% of the audience playing in 'Simplified Chinese' left a positive review.

Fortunately, Team Cherry is aware of the issue, as marketing representative Matthew Griffin announced, "We appreciate you letting us know about quality issues with the current Simplified Chinese translation of Hollow Knight: Silksong," and they plan to improve the translation in the coming weeks.

This localization update is hoped to be effective, potentially releasing alongside bug fixes.

This situation highlights that factors beyond gameplay can impact the gaming experience.