The much-anticipated sequel to Team Cherry's acclaimed indie hit, Hollow Knight: Silksong, officially launched on September 4, 2025, quickly becoming a blockbuster release across global platforms. Within its first four hours on Steam, the game drew more than 500,000 concurrent players, ranking it as the 18th highest all-time peak player count in Steam’s history — a remarkable milestone given the original Hollow Knight’s modest 812 player peak on day one. Despite this explosive popularity, the launch was marred by widespread technical issues impacting Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Game Pass. Many players reported problems including inability to purchase, download, or launch the game, with the phenomenon even temporarily removing Silksong’s Steam page from visibility. Notably, the game still surpassed 100,000 concurrent players on Steam within its first 45 minutes of availability, eclipsing the original game’s all-time record of around 72,000 concurrent users. The original game, released in 2017 by the Australian developer Team Cherry, grew in scope from an expansion to a fully standalone title. Silksong offers players the chance to explore the vast new Greymoor area as the character Hornet in a challenging 2D platformer experience enriched with new foes and bosses. Accompanying the game's release, the official soundtrack composed by Christopher Larkin made its debut on platforms like Bandcamp and Steam, priced at $11.99. The expansive score boasts 53 tracks — more than twice the content of the original game’s soundtrack and DLC combined — and is available in a discounted bundle with the game. Comparisons to other major titles within the soulslike genre highlight Silksong’s impact. Its launch day concurrent player numbers rival those of Elden Ring, a major AAA release, positioning Silksong among the most successful indie launches ever recorded. Another indie game, Palworld, briefly outpaced Silksong’s early success but benefits from a multiplayer framework. This milestone launch points to a robust appetite for high-quality indie games and demonstrates how digital distribution platforms can amplify reach despite infrastructural teething problems. Team Cherry’s deliberate, unhurried development approach allowed them to craft a polished product without succumbing to the typical pitfalls of rushed production. As the player base continues to grow, Silksong’s influence on the indie game scene and the broader PC gaming market will be closely watched, confirming the enduring appeal and commercial viability of well-crafted titles from small development teams.

• Launch Date: September 4, 2025
• Peak Concurrent Players on Steam (first 4 hours): 500,000+
• Rank: 18th highest peak in Steam history
• Original Hollow Knight Day 1 Peak: 812 players
• Technical Issues Affecting Steam, eShop, and Game Pass
• Soundtrack Release: 53 tracks, available on Bandcamp and Steam
• Game Price: $20 at launch; $25.58 bundled with soundtrack