Hollow Knight: Silksong Faces Localization Controversy in China
Hollow Knight: Silksong, the highly anticipated sequel from Team Cherry, has seen an overwhelmingly positive reception since its recent launch across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. Players worldwide have praised its quality and depth, with the game even joining Game Pass at release. However, this success has been overshadowed by a significant issue impacting its reception in China: a widely criticized Simplified Chinese localization that has led to a wave of negative reviews on Steam.
At the time of writing, only 38% of user reviews from Chinese players on Steam are positive, dramatically pulling down Silksong's overall rating to 76%. The problems reportedly began even before the game's release, centering around the work of two translators, Finn Wu and Hertzz Liu. Liu, in particular, has been accused of unprofessional conduct for months, allegedly breaching non-disclosure agreements by publicly boasting about his involvement in the project on Chinese social media, revealing lore details, and hinting at release dates prior to official announcements.
Deep Dive into Translation Issues
The quality of the translation first drew fire during a recent Gamescom event, where Chinese players who tried the demo began reporting issues with the localization. Despite this early feedback, Liu reportedly defended his translation choices. Critics point out that the rich narrative of Hollow Knight: Silksong was transformed into an overly flowery and archaic text in Simplified Chinese, often deviating significantly from the original meaning with an abundance of 'self-insertion.' Simple quest instructions became poetic riddles, and NPC dialogues turned into confusing 'word salad,' making the game difficult to follow for native speakers.
Community Response and Developer Promise
The situation escalated when, after weeks passed without a visible response from Team Cherry following the demo criticism, Chinese players began a concerted 'review bombing' campaign. This widespread player action eventually prompted a direct response from Team Cherry's Marketing and PR Director, Matthew Griffin. He publicly acknowledged and thanked Chinese players for their feedback, promising that the studio would address and correct the localization shortcomings in the coming weeks.
While players in other regions, including those utilizing the Russian localization, have reported a smooth and enjoyable experience, the controversy highlights the critical importance of high-quality localization for a global audience. The promised fixes will be crucial for Hollow Knight: Silksong to fully win over its substantial Chinese player base and solidify its universal critical acclaim.
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