Hollow Knight: Silksong Pulling an Avowed May Be Its Best Course of Action

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Pulling an Avowed May Be Its Best Course of Action

Highlights

  • Delaying Silksong can benefit both the game and devs, much like Avowed.
  • Avowed was recently delayed into 2025, but as a part of that delay, Obsidian revealed an official release date.
  • Silksong should similarly address the remaining time in development while confirming the game’s release date.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can’t help but draw parallels between the upcoming games, Avowed and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Just like a patiently awaiting for my favorite pizza to bake perfectly, I understand the agony of waiting for these games to arrive.

Despite Microsoft providing somewhat unclear explanations for the postponement, the new launch date for “Avowed” seems advantageous for the game. Instead of going head-to-head with a multitude of late-2024 releases such as “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6”, “Indiana Jones” from MachineGames, and the next installment of “Dragon Age”, “Avowed” will now be launched in an unusual February 2025. Although delayed release dates can be disappointing, especially when a game encounters a last-minute pushback, the final outcome usually favors both the game and its creators. This is why “Hollow Knight: Silksong” might want to emulate “Avowed’s” release strategy.

The eagerly awaited sequel from Team Cherry, one of the most beloved modern Metroidvania games, is encountering difficulties in its launch. Though many fans are excited about Silksong, others are hesitant to maintain their enthusiasm due to fear of disappointment. Over five years have passed since the title was first announced, and despite a previously expected 2023 release window, players have yet to receive any updates about the game’s development or launch date from Team Cherry in the second half of 2024. When Silksong eventually resurfaces, it should do so with a definite release date that allows the developers ample time for completion.

Avowed and Hollow Knight: Silksong Share Similar Development Times

Microsoft is focusing on enhancing its own product lineup as hardware sales decrease and it shifts to making Game Pass the central aspect of its business. This strategy has led to several exciting games in the pipeline, with “Avowed” being one of them. Interestingly, the development of “Avowed” began over 5 years ago, and it was formally unveiled during the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020. For context, the development of “Hollow Knight: Silksong” started in 2017, initially intended as a large DLC for the original “Hollow Knight,” but later evolving into a full sequel. The official announcement for “Silksong” came in 2019. Essentially, the development timelines for both “Avowed” and “Silksong” are approximately the same.

Just like how neither “Avowed” nor “Silksong” had any specific release dates during their entire development process until this year, when “Avowed” finally disclosed its anticipated launch window. The Xbox Developer Direct in January revealed that players could expect “Avowed” in “Fall 2024”, which was later refined to December 2024 and then February 2025. It would be advantageous for “Silksong” to emulate this approach, debuting a new trailer with a postponed but definitive release date that allows the game ample time to stand out without having to contend with other games vying for attention.

Silksong and Avowed Could Each Be a Major Boost to Game Pass Subscriptions

Hollow Knight: Silksong Pulling an Avowed May Be Its Best Course of Action

Microsoft is transitioning its focus from hardware sales towards Game Pass subscriptions, which has turned out to be a fantastic value for gamers due to the vast selection and high-quality titles available. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard seems poised to significantly enhance the service, as the next Call of Duty game has been confirmed as a Day-1 release on the premium subscription tier. In the future, it’s highly likely that every exclusive Xbox game will debut on Game Pass simultaneously, and the addition of upcoming games like Avowed and Silksong to the service could boost both their popularity and Microsoft’s Game Pass subscriber base.

Even though Silksong isn’t exclusive to Xbox, it was showcased during the Xbox Games Showcase in 2022, leading some to assume it would be a Day-1 Game Pass release. Although the game doesn’t have a confirmed launch date yet, Silksong’s recent appearance might follow the pattern of Avowed by revealing a release date and confirming its availability on Game Pass. This could generate significant excitement for Silksong and potentially encourage many gamers to subscribe to Game Pass in preparation for its release. It’s a mutually beneficial situation for both Silksong and Microsoft.

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2024-08-14 14:05