Hollow Knight breaks a historic player record on Steam after the announcement of Silksong

The confirmation at Gamescom 2025 of the release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong had an immediate impact on the gaming community. Just a few days after the announcement, Hollow Knight, originally released in 2017, reached a new all-time record on Steam with 39,356 concurrent players, nearly doubling its previous mark of 20,000.

This phenomenon reflects how the anticipation for Silksong's arrival transcends forums and social networks, having measurable effects on Valve's platform. What is surprising is that it is an independent single-player title, far from the massive multiplayer games that usually dominate the rankings.

Sales on the rise: Hollow Knight surpasses 15 million copies

The enthusiasm was reflected not only in the number of concurrent users but also in sales. Since the announcement of Silksong, Hollow Knight has sold 12 million additional copies, reaching a total of 15 million. Team Cherry confirmed that this surge in popularity consolidates the title as one of the greatest successes within the metroidvania genre.

The magnitude of this growth also had repercussions in the sector. Some video game studios acknowledged having delayed the release of roguelike and metroidvania titles to avoid coinciding with Silksong, whose brand strength currently seems unbeatable.

Preparations by the gaming community

The massive return to Hollow Knight is, to a large extent, a response to players' need to catch up before Silksong's arrival. Both new users and veterans are looking to explore Hallownest again, rediscover secrets, and perfect their gameplay.

For many who had never tried the title, this phenomenon acted as a gateway to a genre distinguished by its visual and narrative style. Meanwhile, for longtime fans, it means preparation for what promises to be one of the most anticipated sequels in recent years.

Hollow Knight, from classic to current phenomenon

Far from being relegated as a past success, Hollow Knight demonstrates that a niche video game can regain global relevance through collective enthusiasm.

The announcement of Silksong not only reactivated sales and doubled player records, but also changed the industry's release schedule, setting a precedent for the impact of future announcements.