Hell is Us director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête criticized Team Cherry's decision to shadow drop Hollow Knight Silksong on September 4, calling the move callous given the game's massive popularity. The surprise release forced several indie developers to postpone their launches, though Rogue Factor maintained their original date for Hell is Us despite potential financial risks. Jacques-Belletête acknowledged that refunding pre-orders would have created additional complications if they had chosen to delay their game.
The director believes Silksong negatively affected Hell is Us sales, though he lacks specific data to support this claim. He compared the situation to the broader challenge facing modern game developers, noting that finding isolated release windows has become nearly impossible. Jacques-Belletête emphasized that while Team Cherry acted within their rights, larger studios should consider their impact on smaller competitors when making release decisions.
Both companies pursued strategies designed to maximize visibility for their respective titles on the same launch date. The industry continues debating whether such practices represent healthy competition or inconsiderate behavior toward fellow developers.
The director believes Silksong negatively affected Hell is Us sales, though he lacks specific data to support this claim. He compared the situation to the broader challenge facing modern game developers, noting that finding isolated release windows has become nearly impossible. Jacques-Belletête emphasized that while Team Cherry acted within their rights, larger studios should consider their impact on smaller competitors when making release decisions.
Both companies pursued strategies designed to maximize visibility for their respective titles on the same launch date. The industry continues debating whether such practices represent healthy competition or inconsiderate behavior toward fellow developers.
