After eight years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong officially launched on September 4, 2025, immediately becoming one of the most talked-about game releases of the year. This highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed 2017 original, Hollow Knight, has generated unprecedented demand, resulting in significant server issues and download interruptions across multiple digital platforms.

The launch saw a dramatic surge of players attempting to access the game simultaneously, causing widespread disruptions on the Steam, Nintendo Switch 2 eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox storefronts. Fans rushing to purchase or download Silksong encountered error messages and crashes, with some users sharing their frustration and amusement on social media.

Despite these technical difficulties, the response to Silksong's release has been overwhelmingly strong. On Steam alone, the game hit an impressive milestone of over 100,000 concurrent players within the first 45 minutes of availability, dwarfing the original Hollow Knight's peak concurrent player count of just under 73,000 reached the day before the sequel's release. Silksong climbed quickly to become one of the top ten most-played games on Steam shortly after launch.

Available as a $20 indie title and released simultaneously on multiple consoles, Silksong is also a day-one addition to Xbox Game Pass, though issues affected the game's availability through the subscription service at launch. The developers at Team Cherry, the Brisbane-based studio behind both titles, opted for an unusual release approach with no advance review copies circulated, resulting in all players, critics and fans alike, experiencing the game for the first time simultaneously.

Additional features such as Twitch Drops for a special Hornet badge and a robust list of 52 achievements and 53 trophies further boost player engagement. The original Hollow Knight has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, and anticipation for Silksong's success was reflected in its status as the most wishlisted game on Steam leading up to launch.

The overwhelming demand leading to several digital storefront crashes highlights both the enduring popularity of well-crafted indie games and the pressures placed on online platforms during major launches. It also underlines the importance of scalable infrastructure in an industry witnessing increasing simultaneous global participation.

As the technical issues begin to resolve, players worldwide are immersing themselves in Silksong’s challenging Metroidvania gameplay, exploring its world and encountering its notoriously difficult bosses. The game’s reception is shaping up to cement its status as a landmark indie title and a highlight of 2025's gaming calendar.

With the gaming industry continuing to grow in scale and complexity, the Silksong launch exemplifies both the excitement of long-awaited sequels and the technical challenges accompanying record-breaking demand across multiple platforms.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is now available on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.