Silksong Devs May Skip The Game Awards 2025 Despite GOTY Nomination

The developers behind Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry, may not attend The Game Awards 2025 even though their game is nominated for Game of the Year. In interviews with Bloomberg, co-founders said they feel the odds of winning are low and the trip from Australia to Los Angeles may not be worth it. William Pellen said they are busy and might not travel. Ari Gibson added that they think another nominee has stronger chances this year. PC Gamer reports those comments.

Why They Believe They Are Not Likely to Win

Team Cherry argues that their game, while critically praised, carries a polarizing difficulty and design philosophy that might limit its appeal among award voters. They contrasted this with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, another GOTY nominee that the developers called “exceptional and broadly palatable.” This RPG’s accessibility and mass-appeal design may give it an edge over more niche, challenge-oriented titles such as Silksong. GamesRadar provides a full breakdown of the studio’s reasoning.

Silksong’s Strengths and the Risk of Missing the Stage

Silksong remains one of the most anticipated and talked-about games of 2025. Its blend of atmospheric art style, tight platforming and deep design drew praise from long-time fans and new players alike. For many, the nomination alone symbolizes its success and vindicates years of development. Still, by choosing to skip the award show, Team Cherry risks missing a key moment of public recognition. As noted by Dot Esports, this decision may disappoint fans who hoped to see the studio acknowledged on a global stage alongside other major titles.

What This Means for The Game Awards 2025 and Indie Developers

The potential absence of a high-profile indie like Silksong could reshape how we view The Game Awards this year. Awards ceremonies rely not only on nominations but on the presence and acceptance speeches of creators — a missing Team Cherry may reflect shifting priorities among indie developers. Their choice suggests that even when nominated, studios assess exposure, travel burden and odds carefully. It highlights a growing trend where recognition does not automatically translate into participation, especially for small or remote teams.