The announcement of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s release date has led several developers to delay their games into 2026, citing the desire to avoid competing with one of the most anticipated indie titles of the decade.
Silksong, set for release on September 4 2025, follows the success of Hollow Knight, which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
The anticipation surrounding Team Cherry’s sequel has caused studios, particularly in the indie space, to reconsider their launch schedules.
Aeterna Lucis developers confirmed that although their game is complete, they will push its release into 2026. “Our initial plan was to launch it this September, but after the announcement of Silksong, we are fully aware that our game wouldn’t have the visibility it deserves,” the studio explained. The team also credited Silksong as an inspiration, adding: “Instead of rivalry, what we feel is gratitude.”
Other studios have made similar moves. The developers of Faeland, an RPG in early access for nearly two years, postponed their 1.0 release, stating: “Our v1.0 launch was set for September 9, but with today’s announcement of Hollow Knight Silksong releasing on September 4, we’ve made the tough call to postpone our release.”
Meanwhile, CloverPit, a rogue-lite slot machine game, also shifted its launch. Its creators explained that Silksong’s proximity to their release date risked overshadowing their title. They added: “We poured our hearts into our little game so of course we want to give it the best possible shot.”
While Grand Theft Auto VI was previously cited as a rare example of a title influencing industry-wide scheduling, Silksong now appears to be exerting a similar impact, prompting multiple delays across the indie sector.