Launch Success

Hollow Knight: Silksong is soaring on Steam, achieving remarkable success shortly after its release. Within just 24 hours, the game topped sales charts and reached a peak of over 550,000 concurrent players. Fans have showered the title with praise, celebrating its gameplay and artistic design. However, this enthusiasm is not universal, particularly among Chinese-language users who have expressed dissatisfaction with the game’s translation quality.

Translation Controversy

The translation issues have led to a wave of review-bombing from players in China. Many feel that the Simplified Chinese version of Silksong falls short compared to the original Hollow Knight. Matthew Griffin, the head of marketing for the game, acknowledged these concerns and promised improvements. He stated, “We appreciate you letting us know about quality issues with the current Simplified Chinese translation of Hollow Knight: Silksong.” The commitment to addressing the translation problems reflects the growing importance of localization in the gaming industry. Localization expert Loek van Kooten has criticized the Chinese translation, describing it as overly dramatic and convoluted. He likened the writing to “a high-school drama club’s Elizabethan improv night.” This critique highlights the challenges of translating evocative prose while maintaining its essence. The translation has not only affected the game’s dialogue but also its world-building and storytelling, leaving players confused about character relationships and plot points.

Community Reaction

The backlash has been significant, with many players voicing their frustrations online. One Steam review encapsulated the sentiment, criticizing the translation as “god-awful” and lamenting how it detracted from the game’s overall experience. The reviewer noted that while the combat remains enjoyable, the localization issues have marred their understanding of the narrative. Such feedback highlights the crucial role that language plays in enhancing player immersion and enjoyment. Currently, Silksong holds a disappointing rating of just 50 percent, based on approximately 10,000 reviews in the Simplified Chinese category. This rating could hinder the game’s overall perception on Steam, especially given that Chinese users now represent the largest demographic on the platform. Fortunately, Valve’s recent changes to segment reviews by language mitigate the impact of regional issues on global ratings.

Future Outlook

Despite the current challenges, it is unlikely that the translation issues will significantly hinder Silksong’s long-term success. Team Cherry has a strong track record, and their commitment to improving the Chinese localization suggests that they are aware of the stakes involved. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, the importance of high-quality localization will only grow. Players expect not just great gameplay but also narratives that resonate with them in their native languages. While Hollow Knight: Silksong has achieved remarkable success, the translation controversy serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in game localization. As Team Cherry works to rectify these issues, the gaming community will be watching closely, eager to see how the situation unfolds.