Bloody Hell, Silksong's Chinese Translation Went Full Shakespeare – Team Cherry's On The Case!
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Team Cherry is hustling to fix some rather 'Shakespearean' quality issues with *Hollow Knight: Silksong's* Simplified Chinese translation, which have led to 'mixed' Steam reviews specifically from that language group, proving once again that localization is a delicate art, not just a word-swap.
Right, so you know that feeling when you've been waiting for a game, practically counting the nanoseconds, for what feels like an eternity? You've pre-ordered, you've devoured every scrap of news, you've even started speaking in bug-speak just to get in the mood. That's the vibe with *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, isn't it? A game so anticipated, it's become a legend in its own right, spoken of in hushed, reverent tones, often accompanied by a single, mournful tear.
Well, it seems like *Silksong* just had a little magical mishap, a minor 'oops' moment that reminds us even the most anticipated spells can misfire. Apparently, for a significant chunk of its audience, the journey into Pharloom has been less about daring acrobatics and more about... well, reading a very old, slightly confused poem.
According to the eagle-eyed folks at Rock Paper Shotgun (and honestly, hats off to their reporting, because this is wild), Team Cherry is currently battling some 'quality issues' with *Hollow Knight: Silksong's* Simplified Chinese translation. And when I say 'battling,' I mean they're diving into the digital trenches, because these translation woes have reportedly dragged the game's Steam user reviews from those speaking Simplified Chinese down to a rather concerning 'mixed' status.
Now, this isn't just some vague grumbling in the forums. Steam, bless its cotton socks, recently rolled out that rather handy feature allowing us to split reviews by language. And fair dinkum, it's already proving its worth. What we're seeing is a stark contrast: for pretty much every other language, including Traditional Chinese, *Silksong* is overwhelmingly positive, a digital love letter from players to Team Cherry. But for the 6,382 (and counting, I reckon) Simplified Chinese reviews? A different story entirely. A proper divide, like a rift in reality where one side is pure joy and the other is... well, confusion.
It’s a fascinating, if slightly eyebrow-raising, glimpse into the intricate world of game localization. You’d think by now, with games being truly global phenomena, that translation would be a well-oiled machine. But this *Silksong* kerfuffle is a stark reminder that it’s far from just swapping words. It’s about nuance, cultural context, and making sure the emotional impact of the original text isn't lost in translation – or, in this case, actively *mis*translated.
Credit where it's due, Team Cherry's not exactly sitting on their hands while their beloved Hornet tries to navigate Pharloom with a confused look on her face. Matthew 'Leth' Griffin, the studio's marketing and publishing director, has already reached out to the Chinese-speaking 'Skongers' (I love that, by the way). He tweeted a message acknowledging the feedback: "We appreciate you letting us know about quality issues with the current Simplified Chinese translation of *Hollow Knight: Silksong*," he stated. "We'll be working to improve the translation over the coming weeks. Thanks for your feedback and support."
But what *are* these 'quality issues,' you ask? Are we talking about a few misplaced commas? A clumsy phrase or two? Nah, mate. It sounds like something far more... *theatrical*. Issues were flagged as early as the Gamescom demo in late August, with one user describing it as "terrible" and warning of "a risk of bad reviews" if it made it to the official version. Another chimed in, noting the translation style in the demo "differs greatly from the first game," with many lines feeling "unnatural" and some even "awkward or confusing in Chinese."
Here’s where it gets truly wild, like a spell gone rogue. According to Jeremy, a Guides Writer over at Rock Paper Shotgun (who, being half-Chinese, has a moderate grasp of the language), the unnaturalness appears to stem from the use of *classical grammar*. Imagine, if you will, playing an English game where every character spoke like they’d just stepped out of a Shakespearean play. "Hark, adventurer! Thou art in great peril, perchance a foe doth lie in wait! Wherefore art thou, Eric Barone cameo?" – you get the picture, right? Shakespearean Skong. Sounds like it could be a fun, niche mod, but certainly not what you want when you're just trying to lose yourself in the atmospheric depths of a Metroidvania you've been anticipating more than your own birthday.
This isn't just a linguistic speedbump; it's an immersion breaker. When you've waited this long for a game, when the world-building is so pivotal, having to constantly decipher dialogue that feels archaic or clunky pulls you right out of the experience. It turns a fantastical adventure into an unexpected language lesson, which, let's be honest, isn't what most gamers signed up for. It’s a bit like buying a beautifully crafted, bespoke gaming PC, only to find the power button is written in ancient Sumerian.
What this highlights, for me, is the incredible power and responsibility of localization. It's not just a service; it's a vital bridge between a game and its global audience. When done well, it’s invisible – you don't even notice it, you're just immersed. When it stumbles, however, it becomes a glaring obstacle. It’s a testament to the community's vigilance that these issues were spotted and amplified so quickly, especially with Steam's new tools making it easier to pinpoint specific pain points.
It also makes you wonder about the development process. How did such a distinctive translation style get through initial quality assurance? Was it an oversight, a miscommunication, or perhaps an attempt at stylistic flair that simply didn't land? These are the kinds of questions that a curious wizard like myself just *has* to ponder. It’s a delicate balance, trying to inject character into a translation without alienating your players. In this case, it seems the scales tipped a bit too far into the 'unintentionally quirky' realm.
But hey, the good news is Team Cherry is on it. They're listening, they're acknowledging, and they're promising fixes. It's a reminder that even the most beloved studios can occasionally stumble, but their response to community feedback is what truly defines them. Here's hoping the upcoming translation tweaks work their magic, and quickly, so all our mates in China can finally enjoy jumping about as Hornet as much as everyone else appears to be, without being subjected to bardly prose or needing a degree in classical linguistics just to understand a quest log.
It’s a wild ride this gaming industry, isn't it? Full of unexpected twists, even when it comes to the very words we read on screen. Just another day in the digital realm, where sometimes, the biggest boss fight isn't a giant monster, but a rogue dictionary.
Tags: HollowKnightSilksong, TeamCherry, GameLocalization, SteamReviews, GamingNews
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun