Hollow Knight: Silksong Marks 1st Anniversary, Sea of Sorrow Due 2026
September 4, 2026 marks the first anniversary of Hollow Knight: Silksong, which launched on this day in 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, with Game Pass support available from day one. Developed by Team Cherry, the exploration-focused action-adventure is the long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed indie Metroidvania Hollow Knight, a series celebrated for its punishing difficulty, beautiful world design, and high critical standing. First announced in February 2019, the game took roughly six and a half years to reach players. Originally conceived as DLC for the original title, it expanded in scope during development and became a fully standalone new release.
Silksong’s popularity was apparent long before release, as its launch window reportedly drew the same caution from publishers normally reserved for AAA blockbusters, with some titles actually shifting their release dates to avoid it. On PC, the game surpassed 580,000 concurrent players at peak, and sold approximately seven million copies within its first three months. Demand was so intense that connection issues were widely reported across digital storefronts on launch day itself. Together, these figures underscore how eagerly fans awaited the follow-up after the franchise’s lengthy absence.
Set in the ruined insect kingdom of Pharloom, the adventure follows Hornet, a character who appeared in the original game, through moss-covered caverns, a town gleaming in gold, and rain-shrouded hills. The soundtrack returns once again from composer Christopher Larkin. Hornet is markedly more agile than her predecessor, with grappling-based movement and gliding enabling highly vertical traversal; her aerial attacks double as mobility, turning combat into a flowing dance once mastered. A new Crest system changes Hornet’s attack animations and fighting style, while color-coded tools, red, blue, and yellow for attack, defense, and exploration respectively, fuel extensive build customization, with limited equipment slots forcing players to weigh their options carefully.
In December 2025, the first expansion content for Hollow Knight: Silksong, titled Sea of Sorrow, was announced, with delivery planned for 2026. It will be provided free of charge to players who already own Silksong, and is expected to introduce new areas, new bosses, new tools, and other additions, though specific details have yet to be revealed. For players who have not yet experienced the sequel, this first-anniversary moment offers a good opportunity to dive in ahead of the free expansion, and for returning fans, the prospect of more free content is definitely something to look forward to.
