Hollow Knight: Silksong has become such a titan that developers are delaying their own games rather than risk competing with it.

Silksong’s Release Sends Shockwaves

After Team Cherry finally announced a September 4, 2025 release date for Silksong, several developers shifted their launch plans. Some have even delayed their titles into 2026.

This phenomenon is rare. Few games command enough respect and anticipation to reshape the release calendar. In fact, GTA 6 is the only other recent title that had a similar industry-wide effect before its own delay to 2026.

Indie Developers Feel the Pressure

Indie games rely heavily on word of mouth, with early launch visibility often deciding their fate. However, Silksong has hype at a level few can compete with. The original Hollow Knight has sold over 15 million copies, and anticipation for its sequel is at a fever pitch.

Because of this, indie developers see little chance of standing out if they launch in the same window. Many have chosen to delay their game to give it a real chance to succeed.

Aeterna Lucis Moves to 2026

The developers of Aeterna Lucis were candid about their decision. They revealed the game is already finished but will now release in 2026 instead.

“Competing with a phenomenon of that scale would not only be unfair to our team’s effort, but also to you, the community,” the devs said.

Interestingly, they also expressed gratitude to Team Cherry, crediting Hollow Knight as one of their inspirations.

“Instead of rivalry, what we feel is gratitude: thanks to them, the metroidvania genre is more alive than ever.”

Faeland and CloverPit Also Postponed

Faeland, an RPG in early access for almost two years, delayed its planned September 9 release. The devs openly admitted that launching five days after Silksong was a losing battle.

Meanwhile, CloverPit, a quirky rogue-lite slot machine game, also shifted its date.

“Silksong is the most anticipated and wishlisted game on all of Steam… if we stick to our original date we would risk the launch of CloverPit a fair bit,” the developers explained.

A Rare Level of Industry Respect

These are just a few examples of studios who directly cited Silksong as the reason for their delay. There may be many more who are simply staying quiet.

Regardless, Silksong has achieved a rare status. Not only are developers delaying games because of it, but many in the industry are likely planning to take time off just to play it.

For full platform availability and the latest news, you can visit Hollow Knight: Silksong’s official website and follow Team Cherry on X, YouTube and Facebook.