Hollow Knight: Silksong launched on September 4, 2025, to immense fanfare, but the overwhelming demand caused widespread crashes on major digital storefronts, frustrating gamers worldwide. The highly anticipated sequel’s release was marred by technical issues that prevented many from purchasing the game initially.
At 15:00 BST, the game became available, but within minutes, users encountered error pages and purchase failures on Steam, with similar problems reported on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox marketplace. This led to a surge in outage reports on Downdetector, peaking at over 3,750 incidents within the first hour, highlighting the scale of the disruption. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints and memes from fans who had waited years for this moment, expressing their disappointment over the inability to access the game.
Despite the technical difficulties, the game’s popularity was undeniable, with Steam recording over 100,000 concurrent players within half an hour of launch, surpassing the original Hollow Knight’s peak. This demonstrated the massive dedication of the community, with some users managing to purchase the game from alternative stores or after multiple retries. The crashes affected not only individual gamers but also hinted at broader infrastructure challenges for digital platforms.
Developed by Team Cherry, a small indie studio from Adelaide, Australia, Hollow Knight: Silksong is the sequel to the 2017 hit that sold over 15 million copies. The original game’s success built a passionate fanbase that contributed to the launch day frenzy, eager to explore the new adventures of protagonist Hornet in this Metroidvania-style game. The developer’s focus on creating timeless, inspired gameplay has resonated deeply with players.
Amidst the chaos, there were moments of humor and community spirit, such as composer Christopher Larkin joking on social media that Silksong had ‘crashed the internet.’ Other fans shared their excitement upon successfully downloading the game, adding a silver lining to the frustrating experience. This incident underscores the unpredictable nature of digital distribution during peak demand events.
Stores like Humble Bundle experienced brief outages but gradually resolved the issues, though the crashes may prompt platforms to enhance their infrastructure for future high-demand releases. Improvements could include better pre-order systems or increased server capacities to prevent similar problems. The event serves as a case study in managing viral success for indie games.
With the game now accessible to more players, attention turns to its content, including new gameplay mechanics, a expansive world, and 52 achievements to unlock. Priced at $19.99, Silksong is available on PC, consoles, and as a day-one title on Xbox Game Pass, making it accessible to a broad audience. Players are eagerly diving into the adventure, exploring the secrets that have been kept under wraps until now.
This launch day chaos, while disruptive, highlights the massive impact of indie games and the passion of gaming communities. As the dust settles, the focus shifts to enjoying the game and potentially learning from this event to smoother future releases.