Summary
- Delaying Silksong can benefit both the game and devs, much like Avowed.
- Avowed was recently delayed into 2025, but as a part of that delay, Obsidian revealed an official release date.
- Silksong should similarly address the remaining time in development while confirming the game's release date.
Regardless of Microsoft's somewhat confusing reasoning for the delay, the new release date for Avowed is arguably going to be a net positive for the game. Rather than have Obsidian's new RPG compete with the onslaught of late-2024 releases like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, MachineGames' Indiana Jones title, and the next Dragon Age, Avowed is now set to release in an uncharacteristically light February 2025. Release dates slipping into the future can be disheartening, especially when a title faces a last-minute delay. Still, the end result often benefits both the game and its developers, which is why Hollow Knight: Silksong should look to Avowed for its release strategy.
Team Cherry's highly anticipated sequel to one of the most celebrated modern Metroidvania titles is facing an uphill battle when it comes to its release. While there are still plenty of fans eagerly anticipating Silksong, there are also those who are refusing to let themselves continue to feel excitement for the title for fear of being let down. It's been more than 5 years since the title's initial announcement, and after a presumptive 2023 launch window, players find themselves in the latter half of 2024 with no updates from Team Cherry regarding the game's progress or release date. When Silksong finally comes out of hiding, it should do so with a concrete release date that gives the devs plenty of room to breathe.
When Hollow Knight: Silksong Returns, It Can’t Come Empty-Handed
After many years, Hollow Knight: Silksong has to bring something to the table to appease its dedicated, supportive, and patient fans.
Avowed and Hollow Knight: Silksong Share Similar Development Times
Microsoft's push into strengthening its first-party offerings in the face of declining hardware sales and a pivot into making Game Pass the pillar of its business strategy has resulted in the company having several promising games to look forward to, Avowed included. But Avowed's development actually dates back more than 5 years, with the game receiving its first official reveal as part of the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020. For reference, Hollow Knight: Silksong's development began back in 2017, starting as a large DLC for the original Hollow Knight before morphing into a full sequel, with the title's official reveal coming in 2019. Effectively, Avowed and Silksong's development windows are roughly concurrent.
Similarly, neither Avowed nor Silksong have had a release date scheduled throughout the entirety of their development, until this year when Avowed lifted the veil on when players can expect the title. The January Xbox Developer Direct brought the announcement that players could expect Avowed in "Fall 2024", with the release date eventually being solidified for December 2024 and then February 2025. Silksong could do well to follow in Avowed's footsteps, bringing a new trailer with a delayed but concrete release date that gives the game plenty of room to shine without other titles competing for the spotlight.
Silksong and Avowed Could Each Be a Major Boost to Game Pass Subscriptions
Microsoft's shifting focus from hardware sales to Game Pass subscriptions has resulted in the service becoming one of the best deals in gaming, both in terms of the quantity of games available and the quality of the library. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard is already shaping up to be a major boon for the service, with the next Call of Duty game already confirmed as a Day-1 Game Pass release on the premium subscription tier. Moving forward, it's practically a guarantee that every Xbox exclusive will arrive on Game Pass at launch, and Avowed and Silksong's release on the service could serve to benefit both the games and Microsoft's Game Pass subscription numbers.
Though Silksong isn't an Xbox exclusive, it did feature as part of the Xbox Games Showcase in 2022, leading many to believe that it would be a Day-1 Game Pass title upon launch. And while there's still no concrete release date for the game yet, Silksong's coming out of hiding could pull an Avowed, announcing an official release date while also confirming the title's availability on Game Pass. Not only could this drum up plenty of new hype for Silksong, it may end up pushing droves of players into getting a Game Pass subscription in anticipation of the title's release. It's a win-win for both Silksong and Microsoft.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
WHERE TO PLAY
Become the Princess Knight
As the lethal hunter Hornet, adventure through a kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and taken to this unfamiliar world, prepare to battle mighty foes and solve ancient mysteries as you ascend on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. Journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover secrets tied to your nature and your past.
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Hollow Knight
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
