Team Cherry drar sig tillbaka från utmärkelser då Expedition 33 dominerar GOTY Talk

Team Cherry will not travel to Los Angeles for The Game Awards 2025, saying the studio sees little reason to attend a ceremony where it expects Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to claim the industry’s top honor. The Hollow Knight: Silksong developers acknowledged the strength of this year’s field but signaled a firm belief that the outcome is already settled.

Silksong arrived earlier this year after a long development cycle and carried the challenge of meeting years of anticipation. The launch drew strong responses from players and critics, though public sentiment quickly shifted toward Expedition 33, a game that reached 5 MLN copies sold recently, as awards season approached. The game’s broad reach and reception have shaped expectations inside the nominee pool itself.

Bloomberg asked Team Cherry co-founder William Pellen whether the studio had plans to attend the show.

“Maybe not. We’re pretty busy,” he said. — William Pellen

The follow-up question focused on whether the team had prepared an acceptance speech if Silksong managed an upset. Pellen replied that the studio views Expedition 33 as the inevitable winner. He described the result as settled before the event had even taken place, citing the scale of support behind the French studio’s project.

“This year I think we’re safe. I think Expedition 33,” he said. “It’s exceptional and broadly palatable. Whereas we’re on that knife’s edge, where it appeals to some and infuriates others.” — William Pellen

Silksong, Hades 2, Death Stranding 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 round out the Game of the Year nominees on this year's Game Awards. Each title has a substantial following, but internal confidence around Expedition 33 has grown steadily through the fall. Pellen’s comments reflect a sentiment shared across segments of the fanbase and press: the award is likely to go to a game that managed to reach both genre loyalists and wider audiences without losing specificity.

Team Cherry’s decision not to attend is also shaped by ongoing work on Silksong. The studio continues to add material after launch and remains focused on post-release development rather than the awards circuit. The game’s difficulty curve, which has long sparked debate, remains one of the key distinctions between it and Expedition 33. While neither title is considered easy, Silksong demands far sharper precision, limiting its broad appeal despite strong engagement among dedicated players.

A surprise result would reshape the night, but few inside the industry expect one. Momentum, critical consensus, and audience perception have aligned around Expedition 33 heading into the ceremony, setting the stage for a predictable outcome.

Read also, Team Cherry signals steady progress on new Silksong content while staying guarded on details, noting the studio continues to build material after launch while maintaining a careful, iterative approach.