After years of silence, Hollow Knight: Silksong finally got its long-awaited release date during Gamescom 2025: September 4, 2025. The announcement instantly sent shockwaves across the gaming industry. Queues to try the game at the event were enormous, and for many fans, history had been made.
But while the fanbase celebrated, the sudden reveal was less welcome for developers already planning launches in early September. Facing the prospect of competing directly against one of the most anticipated indie titles of all time, many studios chose to delay their games rather than risk being overshadowed.
The “Silksong Effect”: Who Moved, Who Stayed
Silksong’s gravity especially impacted indie developers, particularly those making side-scrollers, RPGs, and niche adventures with overlapping audiences. Within days, a domino effect of delays followed:
Games Delayed:
- Lord Ambermaze – Sept 2 → Sept 17
- Demonschool – Sept 3 → Nov 19
- Comfy Girl – Sept 3 → Oct 8
- CloverPit – Sept 3 → Sept 26
- Kejora – Sept 4 → Jan 2026
- Star Birds – Sept 4 → Sept 10
- Little Witch in the Woods – Sept 4 → Sept 15
- Moros Protocol – Sept 4 → Sept 18
- Baby Steps – Sept 8 → Sept 23
- Faeland – Sept 9 → TBC
- Aeterna Lucis – Sept 18 → 2026
- Megabonk – Delayed to Sept 18
Games Holding Their Ground:
- Metal Eden – Sept 2
- Hirogami – Sept 3
- Jotunnslayer 1.0 – Sept 3
- Adventure of Samsara – Sept 4
- Hell is Us – Sept 4
- Jetrunner – Sept 4
- Fling to the Finish (Consoles) – Sept 4
- Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots – Sept 4
- Dark Deity 2 (Switch 2) – Sept 4
- Cronos: The New Dawn – Sept 5
- Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion – Sept 5
- Shuten Order – Sept 5
Why Silksong Is So Intimidating
Though made by a small indie team, Team Cherry’s Silksong has amassed legendary status. Its Metroidvania roots and reputation for tough but rewarding gameplay mean it will dominate the attention of exactly the same crowd many indie games target. For smaller studios, launching side by side with Silksong could risk being drowned out entirely.
Larger releases such as Hell is Us or Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion seem less worried, banking on their distinct audiences to shield them from Silksong’s pull.
