Hollow Knight Silksong has become a cultural spectacle in the video game space for numerous reasons. For one, it had a long development cycle, which is unheard of for a sequel to an indie game. Secondly, given how long ago the game was announced, everyone eventually started expecting some update about the game at various expos and online events.
Fortunately, after seven years, it seems the game will indeed escape from the Greenpath, and we’ll once again go on a memorable adventure. Amidst all the announcements happening during the Gamescom Weekend, Team Cherry decided it was the right time to finally announce the release date.
So, for anyone who’s confused about the posts and the memes going around about Hollow Knight Silksong, and how we’ve reached this far, read on.
What Is Hollow Knight Silksong All About
Initially conceived as a DLC for the indie metroidvania Hollow Knight, which gained overwhelmingly positive reviews even before Steam’s recent review system changes, Hollow Knight Silksong later turned into a full-fledged sequel. The scope of the game increased significantly, and the developers decided that it was best to make it into a full game.
As per the Steam description for the game, the upcoming metroidvania platformer will take players through a brand-new region called Pharloom. And we won’t be controlling the Knight from the first game. Rather, we’ll be controlling the acrobatic warrior Hornet.
For gamers who’ve played the first game, you’ll quickly recognize her. She’s initially a boss you encounter, who later turns into an ally in your journey through the underground of Hallownest.
Silksong boasts having over 200 different enemies, beasts, and hunters, and more than 40 various bosses. Overall, if you loved the first game, Hollowknight Silksong is just more of the first game, fine-tuned to perfection with more content, new regions, and a new adventure to sit through.
The Interesting Timeline Leading Up to the Release Date Announcement
Video game development is always a curious thing to sit through and experience. Sometimes, it takes only a few years to experience. In other cases, it takes years upon years to come out and launch. In the case of Hollow Knight Silksong, it had two announcements, a long silence of nothing, and finally a great release date.
In 2019, Team Cherry would go on to announce the sequel to the first game through a trailer in a Nintendo Switch Showcase. The claims were still what we are pretty much getting right now when the game launches – bigger, tougher enemies, a brand-new world, Hornet as a protagonist, etc. The initial plans were to launch on PC and Nintendo Switch with one caveat – no release date.
After this announcement, there was a long silence from the developer. Gamers worldwide would always ask for an update about the game, to no avail. Then, we’d hear once again about Hollow Knight Silksong at the 2022 Xbox Bethesda showcase.
The second collaborative showcase between the Microsoft Gaming Giant and the publisher well known for hits like Doom, Skyrim, etc., would see the game resurface once again. This time, there was a catch in the form of the game launching on the Xbox Series X|S and on Game Pass alongside PC and Nintendo Switch.
Xbox would also go on to say that every game announced in the showcase would launch within one year. With everyone once again rejoicing, hopefully getting a release date, everyone was left in the darkness once again, as the game wouldn’t launch within the projected time, followed by a Silence.
Everyone wouldn’t hear anything about Hollow Knight Silksong once again until this year. During the announcement of the upcoming Rog Xbox Ally and Rog Xbox Ally X, the gaming giant once again reaffirmed the game releasing alongside the upcoming handheld PC, which had a Winter release date.
Finally, Nintendo would also very briefly showcase the game with a “2025” release date during one of their showcase montages. Until the Gamescom week, where Team Cherry launched a brand-new trailer showcasing the features of the game with the one thing everyone was waiting for – a September 4, 2025, release date on PC via Steam (which is having its own payment problems with PayPal), DRM-free on GOG, Humble Bundle, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox systems, Game Pass on day one, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
It isn’t easy to dismiss the fact that a lot of gamers were waiting for the release date of Hollow Knight Silksong. After all, the first game won everyone’s heart and made everyone anticipate a follow-up. Hence, it is a great feeling when such a long wait finally becomes fruitful.
Hopefully, Team Cherry made those seven years of anticipation into a fantastic sequel that has the charm of Hollow Knight, while significantly expanding in every area possible. The wait was long, but hopefully it was a fruitful and sweet wait, just like a cherry. Whether Hollow Knight Silksong meets the high expectations remains to be seen, but the finish line is unmistakably almost here.
