The long-awaited release of Hollow Knight: Silksong has sent shockwaves through the online gaming community, leading to chaos across major platforms.

On Friday, global storefronts like Steam, Nintendo's eShop, PlayStation Store, and Microsoft Store buckled under the immense demand for this sequel to the beloved indie hit, Hollow Knight.

Users faced an avalanche of issues when trying to purchase the game right after launch, with many experiencing frustrating error messages for almost three hours. The surge was evident on Downdetector, where user complaints soared to 3,750 in a short span.

Social media flooded with gamer frustrations as they shared screenshots and voiced their discontent over the absence of a preorder option. Some labeled the fiasco as "ridiculous" and "stupid," expressing disbelief at the lack of preparation.

Humble Bundle notably had to inform users that the game was unavailable due to overwhelming traffic. However, within 30 minutes of its launch, Steam reported over 100,000 active players, indicating that many fans successfully secured their copies.

The Phenomenon of Hollow Knight

The original Hollow Knight, developed by the talented trio of Ari Gibson, William Pellen, and Jack Vine—known collectively as Team Cherry—has since its 2017 debut captivated audiences, selling over 15 million copies worldwide.

The New York Times hailed it as a "modern Metroidvania classic," celebrating its hand-drawn animations and intricate world filled with challenges and secrets.

An Anticipated Sequel and Industry Impact

With the sequel shifting its focus to Hornet, a sword-wielding princess from the original game, anticipation has reached a fever pitch. Interestingly, at least seven other game launches have been postponed in the lead-up to Silksong’s release to avoid clashes, including titles like Baby Steps and Demonschool.

The South Australian Film Corporation couldn't contain their excitement, lauding Team Cherry on LinkedIn as exemplars of creative excellence.

A Labor of Love

The development of Silksong took seven years—a timeline the team chose to ensure they crafted the game they envisioned. In a candid interview, Gibson stated, "We’re a small team, and games take a lot of time; there wasn’t any big controversial moment behind it."

Pellen reflected on the original's success, noting its homage to retro game styles without feeling outdated: "We were making something that was to our tastes, and that meant that we were making things that were slightly different. Hopefully, Silksong can achieve that too."