Team Cherry Overview
Pro stress-test →Team Cherry is an indie games developer in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 2014 by William Pellen and Ari Gibson, the studio is best known for developing the action-adventure game "Hollow Knight" for PC and Nintendo Switch devices. The original Hollow Knight generated over $195 million in gross revenue since launch, with estimated net revenue of $57 million, establishing Team Cherry as a critically acclaimed indie powerhouse.
Strategic Profile
Pro stress-test →Team Cherry is an unfunded company with 20 employees as of April 2026, demonstrating that significant commercial and critical success is achievable without external venture capital. The studio maintains a lean, focused approach to game development, concentrating on deep, handcrafted experiences rather than rapid portfolio expansion. Hollow Knight: Silksong will receive a free expansion called Sea of Sorrow in 2026, alongside confirmation of enhanced Switch 2 versions for both Silksong and the original Hollow Knight, signaling ongoing engagement and platform diversification.
Competitive Landscape
Pro stress-test →Team Cherry operates in the crowded indie and mid-tier action-adventure game market, competing alongside studios like Supergiant Games, Motion Twin (Dead Cells), and established publishers' indie arms. The Metroidvania subgenre specifically includes competitors like Symphony of War: The Fiscal Drag and other soul-like adventure titles. Unlike many competitors, Team Cherry's lean structure and self-funding model provide significant advantages in creative control and agility, though they compete for talent, player attention, and platform allocation against larger studios with greater marketing budgets.
Industry Context
Team Cherry operates in Indie video game development.
Key facts
Founded: 2014 · Headquarters: Adelaide, Australia · Employees: 20 · Revenue: $1M–$5M (estimated annual)