Delayed Gratification: The Turbulent Launch of Silksong
After six long years of anticipation, Team Cherry's highly awaited sequel to Hollow Knight, Silksong, officially launched globally at 10 am EDT today. Regrettably, enthusiasts of this action - adventure game may be compelled to extend their wait. The online marketplaces, including the Xbox and PlayStation stores, Steam, and Nintendo eShop, are currently inundated with loading screens and error messages, a consequence of the surge in eager buyers.
Technical Hurdles Across Platforms
Steam: Players attempting to add the game to their cart or finalize their purchase are greeted with a consistent message: an image of a disgruntled blob accompanied by the caption “Something went wrong.”
Nintendo Switch: Bluesky users report that the eShop either gets stuck on loading screens or displays error messages for Switch players.
PlayStation Store: For some PlayStation users, the game has seemingly vanished entirely, while for others, it is unavailable for purchase. According to Verge reporter Tom Warren, fans aiming to acquire the game through Xbox Game Pass should resort to remote - installation via the console's website.
Fan Reactions: Frustration and Triumph
In the face of these technical glitches, many fans have taken to social media to express their discontent. One Bluesky user posted, “STEAM, LET ME PLAY SILKSONG,” while another quipped, “First boss of #Silksong is really tough,” alongside a picture of Steam's error message. Twitch streamers attempting to showcase the game to their audiences are grappling with similar issues. On X, user @HaydenSchiff shared a screenshot depicting numerous streamers encountering the same Steam error.
Conversely, those fortunate enough to have successfully purchased the game are flaunting their accomplishment. One individual boasted, “God’s favorite,” accompanied by a picture of Silksong on their Switch 2.
The Journey of Silksong
Announced in 2019, Silksong is the successor to Team Cherry's debut title, Hollow Knight. The latter, a blend of Dark Souls - like challenge and cartoonish allure, became an award - winning indie sensation, selling over 15 million copies. This was a remarkable achievement for the small Australian - based developer. Initially intended as downloadable content, the Silksong project evolved into a full - fledged game, taking seven years to complete.
Despite years of sparse updates and limited news, the Silksong fan community has remained vibrant. Some fans even transformed the waiting period into a game, while others dedicated themselves to (largely non - existent) daily news updates.
The Chaotic Lead - up
The weeks preceding the launch of Silksong, which is now available for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, have been tumultuous for both developers and fans alike. In August, developers made a surprise announcement that the game would launch in two weeks. This led to at least half a dozen fellow indie developers postponing their own game releases. Demonschool developer Necrosoft, after announcing its delay, wrote on Bluesky, “Dropping the GTA of indie games with 2 weeks notice makes everyone freak out.”
Unquestionable Popularity
The game's popularity is beyond dispute. At the time of writing, Silksong is the top - selling game on Steam, with over 100,000 concurrent players on this platform alone. For those still striving to purchase a copy, it seems that the years of waiting may have inadvertently prepared them for the challenges of launch day.
