The highly anticipated release of Hollow Knight: Silksong caused significant disruptions across major online gaming platforms, as unprecedented demand led to widespread crashes on Friday.
Key digital marketplaces, including Steam, the Nintendo eShop, and the PlayStation Store, experienced outages shortly after the game became available. Users encountered persistent error messages and were unable to complete purchases for nearly three hours following the launch. Reports of service issues surged into the thousands on monitoring sites, reflecting the scale of the disruption.
On social media, players expressed widespread frustration over the technical failures, with many questioning why pre-order options had not been made available to help manage the surge in traffic. One digital retailer temporarily listed the game as unavailable due to overwhelming visitor numbers before services were restored.
Despite the initial chaos, player counts skyrocketed within the first half-hour, indicating that many fans successfully acquired the title despite the technical difficulties.
Developed by the small Adelaide-based studio Team Cherry, Silksong is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2017 title Hollow Knight. The original game, celebrated for its hand-drawn art and challenging gameplay, cultivated a dedicated global fanbase and sold millions of copies worldwide.
The level of anticipation for the sequel was so significant that several other game releases were reportedly postponed in recent weeks to avoid competing with its launch.
In a recent statement, a representative from the development team acknowledged the lengthy production cycle, emphasizing their commitment to creating a game that met their own creative standards without external pressure. The team expressed hope that the new title would resonate with players in the same way the original did, by offering a unique and thoughtfully crafted experience.
