Tag: Hollow Knight: Silksong

  • Xbox Reveals 7 New Games Coming to Game Pass This Month

    Xbox Reveals 7 New Games Coming to Game Pass This Month

    Key Takeaways

    1. Seven new games are joining the Xbox Game Pass library in March 2026, including Cyberpunk 2077.
    2. T and Hollow Knight: Silksong will now be part of Game Pass Premium.
    3. Several games will leave the Game Pass library on March 15, including Bratz Rhythm & Style and Enter the Gungeon.
    4. Players are encouraged to play departing games before they are removed from the library.
    5. Xbox Game Pass offers a variety of games at an affordable price for gamers.

    Microsoft has made it official that the first Xbox Game Pass lineup for March 2026 is here, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic start for the month. Last month, players enjoyed several great additions, and March is keeping that positive trend going.

    Exciting New Games

    This month, a total of seven new games are set to join the Xbox Game Pass library. As many fans anticipated, Cyberpunk 2077 is included in this lineup after some recent hints. Furthermore, T and Hollow Knight: Silksong, which have been available on Game Pass for a while, will now also be part of Game Pass Premium. You can check the complete release schedule of this exciting new lineup below.

    Departures from the Library

    Microsoft has also announced that several games will be leaving the Game Pass library on March 15. These titles include Bratz Rhythm & Style, Enter the Gungeon, F1 23, He is Coming, Lightyear Frontier, and Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island. Make sure to play these games before they’re gone!

    Xbox Game Pass is a great way to access a variety of games at an affordable price, keeping gamers entertained with new and classic titles.

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  • 2025 Steam Awards Winners: Hollow Knight Silksong Takes GOTY

    2025 Steam Awards Winners: Hollow Knight Silksong Takes GOTY

    Key Takeaways

    1. Hollow Knight: Silksong won Game of the Year at the 2025 Steam Awards.
    2. Hollow Knight: Silksong also received the award for “Best Game You Suck At.”
    3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the Best Soundtrack award instead of Game of the Year.
    4. The voting for the Steam Awards took place in November 2025.
    5. Hollow Knight: Silksong is the only title to win two awards at the Steam Awards.

    Valve has revealed the winners of the 2025 Steam Awards, concluding several weeks of community voting. The voting kicked off in November 2025, giving Steam users the chance to select their top picks across various categories. Now, the outcomes are finally available.

    Hollow Knight: Silksong Takes the Spotlight

    Hollow Knight: Silksong has been crowned Game of the Year at the 2025 Steam Awards. This eagerly awaited Metroidvania sequel was launched last year after a protracted development period, quickly becoming one of the most popular titles on Steam. Silksong didn’t just stop at one honor; it also nabbed the award for “Best Game You Suck At,” a category that showcases games recognized for their challenging and intense gameplay. This achievement makes Silksong the sole title to earn two accolades at the Steam Awards.

    Surprises in the Awards

    While many anticipated that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would take home the Game of the Year trophy, given its success at other prestigious events, it ultimately won the Best Soundtrack award instead. Here is a complete list of the victors of the 2025 Steam Awards:

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong 20% Off Everywhere Except Xbox

    Hollow Knight: Silksong 20% Off Everywhere Except Xbox

    Key Takeaways

    1. Discount on Hollow Knight: Silksong: The game is currently available for a 20% discount, priced at $15.99 on PC, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop.

    2. Limited Time Offer for PC Users: The discount for PC sales ends on January 5th, making it crucial for PC gamers to act quickly.

    3. Xbox Users Excluded: Xbox users cannot benefit from the discount, as the game remains priced at $19.99 on the Microsoft and Xbox Store.

    4. High Performance Across Platforms: Silksong runs well on various consoles, with current-gen systems supporting up to 120 FPS and 4K resolution.

    5. Positive Reception and Early Discounts: Despite its challenging difficulty, Silksong has received nearly universal praise, making the early discount appealing to fans.

    Fans of indie Metroidvania games such as Hollow Knight and Axiom Verge might be excited to hear that Hollow Knight: Silksong is currently available for a 20% discount—everywhere! The much-anticipated Silksong is priced at only $15.99 on PC through platforms like Humble Bundle, Steam, and DRM-free GOG. Its price on the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop is also set at $15.99. However, since the PC sales are ending on January 5th, console gamers might miss out on this deal too. This sale comes at a great time, especially with the recent announcement of Sea of Sorrow set to release for free next year.

    Xbox Users Left Out

    Oddly enough, there’s one group that can’t take advantage of this festive Silksong discount: Xbox users. On the Microsoft and Xbox Store, Silksong remains at the full price of $19.99 USD. Xbox console owners are still faced with paying full price for one of the most anticipated indie games of 2025. It’s unclear why Xbox is missing out on this deal—whether Team Cherry, the developers, decided to forgo the discount to compensate for potential losses from the game’s presence on PC Game Pass & Game Pass Ultimate or if Microsoft simply didn’t allow it.

    A Game Worth Its Price

    Despite the ongoing issues for Xbox owners, Silksong is widely regarded as an excellent game no matter the platform. It adapts well across different systems, even though it is a 2D game. Last-generation consoles like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One can only run it at 1080p and 60 FPS. In contrast, current-gen consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 (and Pro), and Xbox Series S/X can enjoy the game at 120 FPS, 4K resolution, or both. For players who haven’t experienced a high-precision 2D action game at 120 Hz, Silksong offers a beautifully smooth visual experience. Plus, PC users have no limits on frame rates except for their monitor’s refresh rate.

    Early Discounts Are Appreciated

    Considering that the game launched at a low price of just $20 earlier this year, and received nearly universal praise except for its challenging difficulty, it’s great to see a discount so soon. While it may not be enough for players hoping for a price below $15, fans of both Silksong and the original Hollow Knight can confirm that these games are indeed worth the investment.

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong Android Port Boosts Performance & Controls

    Hollow Knight: Silksong Android Port Boosts Performance & Controls

    Key Takeaways

    1. Hollow Knight: Silksong has sold 6 million copies and is now available as an unofficial mobile port.
    2. The unofficial mobile port faced initial performance issues but has improved with the latest update (version 1.0.5b).
    3. New features include better touch controls, customizable buttons, and controller support for enhanced gameplay.
    4. The mobile port starts in Chinese, but users can change the language in the settings.
    5. Caution is advised when using unofficial releases, and purchasing from trusted sources like Steam is recommended for safety.

    Hollow Knight: Silksong has seen great success, recently hitting the milestone of 6 million copies sold. While it was previously playable on Android devices through emulators, an unofficial mobile port has recently been released.

    Unofficial Release Challenges

    The launch of this unofficial mobile port was not without its issues. The Chinese developers behind the project initially provided beta versions, which, despite running natively, experienced numerous performance problems. Nevertheless, the current version of the unofficial Android port of Hollow Knight: Silksong is said to operate smoothly.

    Improvements and Features

    It’s important to highlight that the mobile port is inconsistent, and unofficial game ports can often be unreliable. These typically do not come from well-known sources. However, according to posts on r/EmulationOnAndroid, the newest update, version 1.0.5b, includes significant enhancements compared to earlier versions.

    This update brings better touch controls, eliminating the reliance on PlayStation buttons from the beta versions. Users now have the ability to customize buttons as they wish. Additionally, controller support is included, which is a major advantage since using a mobile controller can greatly enhance the gaming experience (GameSir X2s is currently priced at $35.99 on Amazon). There are also performance upgrades, and the unofficial Android port can reportedly achieve 120 FPS on capable devices.

    Language and Caution

    One thing to keep in mind is that the unofficial mobile port starts in Chinese. The positive aspect is that users can change the language setting in the menu. While these features sound appealing, caution is always advised when sideloading unofficial releases like this, as they may contain malware. To ensure safety, it is recommended to purchase Hollow Knight: Silksong on Steam and use a trusted emulator for play.

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong Modders Fix Double Damage Issues

    Hollow Knight: Silksong Modders Fix Double Damage Issues

    Key Takeaways

    1. Gameplay Difficulty: Hollow Knight: Silksong features a challenging early gameplay experience, with enemies dealing double damage, which frustrates many players.

    2. Community Response: The modding community quickly created modifications to reduce the game’s difficulty, allowing players to enjoy the game more comfortably.

    3. Notable Mod: The “No Double Damage” mod, created by Baiker, reduces enemy damage to one mask, addressing player concerns about the harsh difficulty.

    4. Installation Steps: To install mods, players must download the BepInEx framework and place the mod files into the plugins folder within the game directory.

    5. Additional Mod Features: Mods like Synthlight’s “Always Have Compass” enable players to use essential tools without sacrificing inventory space, enhancing the gameplay experience.

    Just a few days after the highly anticipated release of Hollow Knight: Silksong on September 4, 2025, the modding community wasted no time tackling one of the game’s most frustrating aspects—double-damage. This feature has upset some casual players who find it overly challenging.

    Challenges in Gameplay

    Team Cherry has returned with its meticulously crafted Metroidvania game, which features complex and precise gameplay. However, the game’s early difficulty level is quite harsh, with enemies able to deal double damage right from the start. This can make it very tough for newcomers and even experienced players.

    The game has a file size of 8 GB on PC, and modders have swiftly adjusted the settings to lower the difficulty in Hollow Knight: Silksong. The initial set of mods available on Nexus Mods focuses on easing the steep difficulty curve, allowing both new and returning players to better enjoy Hornet’s adventure through Pharloom.

    Modding Solutions

    One notable mod, the “No Double Damage” mod created by Baiker, appeared on Nexus Mods on September 5, just a day after the game launched. This modification addresses the issue that many players have been vocal about.

    In the game, numerous enemies and bosses can inflict damage equivalent to two masks per hit, making the experience quite brutal, especially for those just starting out when health upgrades are scarce. Baiker mentions, “This mod modifies damage taken from enemies to be one mask. Hazards may still deal two hit damage.”

    Installation Process

    To get this mod up and running, players first need to download the BepInEx framework version 5.4.23.3. After launching the game once and then exiting back to the desktop, a BepInEx folder will appear, which contains a plugins folder.

    Next, it’s a simple process to download the mod DLL file and extract it into the plugins folder within the Hollow Knight: Silksong installation directory. However, some players still feel the game is overly punishing, with suggestions that environmental damage should also be reduced to just 1 health chip.

    Additionally, players are required to equip a Compass, similar to the original Hollow Knight, which takes up a valuable tool slot. Modder Synthlight has also introduced a fix that allows players to “Always Have Compass” and “Always Have Magnet” around the same time, enabling users to keep these features without giving up inventory slots for other items like the Magnetite brooch.

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong Faces Review Bombing Over Chinese Translations

    Hollow Knight: Silksong Faces Review Bombing Over Chinese Translations

    Key Takeaways

    1. Hollow Knight: Silksong launched successfully, breaking Steam records with over 500,000 players online simultaneously and receiving an overall positive rating of 82%.

    2. A coordinated effort by Chinese players to review bomb the game due to ‘poor translation’ has resulted in a “Mixed” rating for the Simplified Chinese version, with only 44% positive reviews.

    3. Localization expert critiques highlight that the Chinese version distorts the game’s tone, comparing it to a “high-school drama club’s Elizabethan improv night.”

    4. Steam’s new policy to separate reviews by language has helped protect Silksong’s global rating from the negative impact of the Chinese backlash.

    5. Despite translation issues, the core gameplay of Silksong remains highly praised, with many Chinese players expressing their love for the game itself.

    Hollow Knight: Silksong saw an amazing launch, setting Steam records with over 500,000 players online at once and causing several digital stores to crash. The sequel to the popular Metroidvania game received high praise in most areas, achieving an overall positive rating of 82%.

    Review Bombing by Players

    Yet, players who speak Chinese have started a coordinated effort to negatively review the indie game. This has dropped the Simplified Chinese rating to “Mixed,” with only about 44% of reviews being positive. This backlash is due to what players call ‘poor translation,’ which distorts the game’s intended tone and atmosphere, ruining the experience for many.

    Localization Issues

    Localization expert Loek van Kooten has stated that the Chinese version of Silksong changes the game’s “evocative yet concise writing” into something akin to “a high-school drama club’s Elizabethan improv night.” Players have shared that the dialogue feels like it’s lifted from ancient Chinese literature, using old-fashioned phrases that seem very out of place.

    A review from a Chinese player on Steam mentions, “Your speech lacks integrity, your words don’t connect, and your so-called elegant phrasing is merely forced invention.”

    Impact of Steam’s Policy Change

    Recently, Steam introduced a policy to separate reviews by language, which has helped keep the Chinese backlash from heavily affecting Silksong’s global rating. If this hadn’t happened, the controversy might have severely hurt the game’s overall image, especially since Chinese users now make up the largest group on Steam.

    Team Cherry’s marketing rep, Matthew Griffin, promptly responded to the situation on social media. He admitted that there were issues with translation quality and assured players that improvements would come “in the next few weeks.” However, this response led to more criticism, as players called for a complete overhaul of the translation instead of just minor adjustments.

    Core Gameplay Remains Praised

    Even with the translation problems, the main gameplay of Silksong has been praised universally. Frustrated Chinese players have even said they “love” the game itself. It’s still unclear what actions Team Cherry will take to enhance the experience for the Chinese audience.

     

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong Surpasses 500K Players and Growing

    Hollow Knight: Silksong Surpasses 500K Players and Growing

    Key Takeaways

    1. Record-Breaking Launch: Hollow Knight: Silksong peaked at 562,814 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing its predecessor significantly.

    2. Widespread Availability: The game launched at a price of $19.99 on multiple platforms, leading to server delays due to overwhelming demand.

    3. Positive Reception: With over 41,000 reviews on Steam, 90% of which are “very positive,” player engagement remains high.

    4. Streamer Impact: The game attracted 362,000 viewers on Twitch within its first day, becoming the eighth most-watched category.

    5. Setting New Standards: Silksong’s success is expected to influence future indie game releases, raising expectations in gameplay, pricing, and launch strategies.

    Indie Metroidvania game, Hollow Knight: Silksong, has achieved a remarkable peak of 562,814 concurrent players on Steam, with a steady count of 412,000 active users, as reported by SteamDB. The Australian team of three at Team Cherry released a sequel that quickly climbed into Steam’s all-time top 20, outpacing the original by a significant margin.

    Price and Popularity Surge

    The game’s price of $19.99 and its launch on platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 attracted millions of players, causing a rush that overwhelmed all major stores at launch. Steam, Nintendo eShop, and PlayStation Store experienced server delays due to the massive surge in downloads. Additionally, player engagement has been supported with over 41,000 reviews on Steam, with 90% marked as “very positive,” and a following of 448,000 on SteamDB.

    Streamer Influence

    Adding to the excitement, well-known streamers and esports figures played the game, resulting in Silksong gathering 362,000 combined viewers on Twitch. It became the eighth most-watched category within its first day of release.

    A New Benchmark

    With player numbers and reviews consistently exceeding 410,000 even days after launch, Silksong has established a new standard for indie game releases in a competitive market. Future indie games will likely take cues from this success, raising expectations regarding gameplay, pricing, and launch strategies throughout the industry.

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong Price Impacting Other Indie Game Costs

    Hollow Knight: Silksong Price Impacting Other Indie Game Costs

    Key Takeaways

    1. The release date of Hollow Knight: Silksong has influenced other Metroidvania games to adjust their launch plans.
    2. The attractive price of $19.99 for Silksong is causing developers to rethink their pricing strategies, raising concerns about market expectations.
    3. Toukana Interactive postponed their game launch to avoid competing with Silksong and adjusted their pricing, considering their larger development costs.
    4. Some developers, like RJ Lake, worry that Silksong’s low price may set unrealistic expectations for pricing on other indie games.
    5. Not all studios believe Silksong will significantly impact the industry, with some arguing that diverse price ranges will continue to exist for different games.

    The sudden announcement of the release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong has changed how other Metroidvania games plan their launches. The attractive price of $19.99/€19.99 for Silksong has led some game developers to rethink their pricing strategies. According to Eurogamer, there are concerns among companies that Team Cherry has set a bar that might be too high for other indie games to meet.

    Shifts in Launch Dates

    Toukana Interactive, the team behind the space base-building game Star Birds, had initially planned to release on September 4th. However, they have now pushed their launch to September 10th to steer clear of the Silksong excitement. The studio mentioned to Eurogamer that they also modified the price of their game, which has not yet been disclosed. Nevertheless, Toukana had to keep in mind their development costs since their team is larger than that of Team Cherry.

    Price Concerns from Developers

    Other developers have reacted more strongly to the unexpectedly low price of Silksong. RJ Lake, the director of the rhythm adventure game Unbeatable, expressed his worries on social media. He stated, “Silksong honestly should cost 40 bucks and I’m not even joking.” He elaborated that players might now expect all indie games that offer similar content to be priced at around $20.

    Different Perspectives on Industry Impact

    Not every studio believes that Hollow Knight: Silksong is setting trends. Gareth Damian Martin, who created Citizen Sleeper and its sequel, argues that no single game can dramatically change the economic landscape of the industry. He believes that while Team Cherry’s game is extremely popular, players will still buy other titles at different price ranges.

    Silksong is also a result of specific conditions unique to indie games. The original Hollow Knight from 2017 received tremendous support and impressive sales, which helped Team Cherry in creating a sequel. With the high demand for Silksong, the small team is likely to sell plenty of copies to keep themselves afloat, even at the $20 price point. After experiencing server crashes on its release day, Silksong reached a peak player count of over 562,000 on Steam.

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    Hollow Knight: Silksong Price Impacting Other Indie Game Costs

     

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong PS5 Price Double That of Steam and Switch

    Hollow Knight: Silksong PS5 Price Double That of Steam and Switch

    Key Takeaways

    1. Price Disparity: Hollow Knight: Silksong costs R$115 on PS5 in Brazil, compared to R$60 on Steam and Nintendo eShop.

    2. Economic Context: The PS5 price converts to $21.11, which is significant given the average monthly income in Brazil is around $615.

    3. Regional Pricing Impact: Companies like Steam, Microsoft, and Nintendo adjust prices for local economies, but Brazilian consumers face frustrations with recent price increases on PS5 titles.

    4. Legal Challenges for Sony: Pricing differences have led to lawsuits against Sony, including claims of monopolistic practices in the Netherlands.

    5. Gamer Commitment: Despite high prices, many Brazilian gamers prioritize their hobby, with surveys showing that some would accept high prices for popular games like GTA 6.

    Gamers were happy to find out the price for Hollow Knight: Silksong. But, sadly, PlayStation fans in Brazil don’t get such a great deal. A member from the ResetEra forum revealed the PS5 game’s cost in comparison to other platforms. In Brazil, Silksong is priced at R$115, while it is only R$60 on Steam and the Nintendo eShop.

    Price Comparison

    When converted to U.S. dollars, the PS5 price for Silksong is $21.11, which isn’t too bad. However, the average monthly income for someone in Brazil is around $615, making gaming quite costly. Companies like Steam, Microsoft, and Nintendo often use regional pricing in certain locations to adjust for local economies. In this instance, the PC and Switch versions of the game by Team Cherry are just $11.00.

    Impact of Regional Pricing

    Regional pricing can fluctuate greatly, and some AAA games have less obvious differences. Still, Brazilian consumers have been frustrated by recent price hikes on PS5 first-party games. For example, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach saw its price increase from R$349.90 to R$399.90, which is about $73.40.

    The high prices on the PlayStation Store aren’t just a Brazil issue. In Turkey, players are asked to pay 3,449 Turkish liras, which is about $83.61 for Ghost of Tsushima. Just like in Brazil, this cost takes up a big chunk of a gamer’s monthly earnings.

    Legal Issues for Sony

    The differences in pricing between the PlayStation Store and other platforms have led to several lawsuits against the company. The most recent one in the Netherlands claims that Sony is engaging in monopolistic behavior. A Dutch consumer rights group states that there’s only one place for consumers and developers to buy or sell digital PS5 games. Back in March 2025, Sony settled a lawsuit in the U.S. because it stopped retailers from selling PS Store game codes.

    Despite the high price of Hollow Knight: Silksong on PS5, it is unlikely to stop most Brazilian gamers from buying it. Even if their resources are limited, many dedicated players in Brazil prioritize their gaming hobby. A recent survey indicated that one-third of Brazilian gamers would find a $100 price for GTA 6 acceptable.

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  • Hollow Knight: Silksong Release Date – Steam Issues Affect Sales

    Hollow Knight: Silksong Release Date – Steam Issues Affect Sales

    Key Takeaways

    1. Launch Day Chaos: Steam experienced significant server issues at the launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong, leading to widespread downtime and error code E502 L3 due to heavy traffic.

    2. Buyer Frustration: Many users faced difficulties purchasing and downloading the game, with around 110,000 players online, which is lower than expected.

    3. Broader Impact: Other gaming platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo also encountered connection problems, but Steam was the most affected by the high traffic.

    4. Community Frustration: Fans expressed their disappointment on Steam forums about Team Cherry not offering pre-orders or pre-install options for Silksong.

    5. Download Size: The game’s download size is approximately 8 GB, allowing for a quick experience once server issues are resolved.

    After waiting for six years, Team Cherry’s latest project is finally out. Sadly, the excitement surrounding the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong has caused Valve’s Steam platform to crash. Because of this, many gamers are still eager to find out how the developer has enhanced their well-loved Metroidvania title.

    Launch Day Chaos

    When Silksong was launched at 10 AM EST/4 PM CST, social media was flooded with reports of Steam being down. The most common error code seen was E502 L3, which indicates “overloaded or unstable Steam servers, usually due to heavy traffic or server-side problems, not an issue with your personal game or device.” Downdetector recorded a sharp increase in errors precisely at the game’s release time.

    Buyer Frustration

    Even though it’s been annoying, some users have managed to purchase and download the game by constantly refreshing the website. Currently, Silksong has around 110,000 players online at the same time, but this number is significantly less than what many experts had predicted. The release chaos is impacting the whole store, and customers are having difficulty activating Steam keys for other titles.

    Broader Impact

    Gamers on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo are also feeling the stress from the Silksong launch. Platforms like the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop have faced connection problems as well. However, it appears that Steam servers are taking the most significant hit from the high traffic.

    While buying processes are disrupted, the Steam forums are still operational. Fans are voicing their frustrations towards Team Cherry for not allowing pre-orders for Silksong. Other than the Xbox Store, there was no way to pre-install the game either.

    Download Size

    On a positive note, the download file size is only about 8 GB. Once Steam is back up and running, players shouldn’t have to wait long to dive into the expanded world of Hollow Knight: Silksong alongside Hornet.

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    Hollow Knight: Silksong Release Date - Steam Issues Affect SalesHollow Knight: Silksong Release Date - Steam Issues Affect Sales

     

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