The original idea for "Hollow Knight" was just to create a small Metroidvania game, with a development scope much smaller than what it eventually became. In a 2018 interview, Team Cherry's co-directors Ari Gibson and William Pellen shared that their initial crowdfunding target of AUD 35,000 was meant to cover only around two hours of gameplay.
"The figure refers to a very small-scale Metroidvania game, essentially just a minor project," Gibson remarked. Pellen further explained that the initial plan was for "approximately two hours of gameplay."
However, the final sum of 58,000 AUD raised enabled the team to work full-time on development for two years and progressively expand the scope of the game. Gibson stated, "The extra funds allowed us to include much more content than we originally envisioned."
It’s important to note that the development of the sequel "Hollow Knight: Silksong" has faced multiple delays due to its significant expansion in scope. Recently, this title has resurfaced in rumors concerning the Nintendo Switch 2. Meanwhile, Xbox reminds players that they can still enjoy the original "Hollow Knight" via Game Pass.