Summary
Regardless of Microsoft’s somewhat confusing reasoning for the delay, the new release date forAvowedis arguably going to be a net positive for the game. Rather than have Obsidian’s new RPG compete with the onslaught of late-2024 releases likeCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, MachineGames’Indiana Jonestitle, and the nextDragon Age,Avowedis now set to release in an uncharacteristically light February 2025. Release dates slipping into the future can be disheartening, especially when a title faces a last-minute delay. Still, the end result often benefits both the game and its developers, which is whyHollow Knight: Silksongshould look toAvowedfor its release strategy.
Team Cherry’s highly anticipated sequel to one of the most celebrated modern Metroidvania titles is facing an uphill battle when it comes to its release. While there are still plenty of fans eagerly anticipatingSilksong, there are also those who are refusing to let themselves continue to feel excitement for the title for fear of being let down. It’s been more than 5 years since the title’s initial announcement, and after a presumptive 2023 launch window, players find themselves in the latter half of 2024 with noupdates from Team Cherryregarding the game’s progress or release date. WhenSilksongfinally comes out of hiding, it should do so with a concrete release date that gives the devs plenty of room to breathe.
Avowed and Hollow Knight: Silksong Share Similar Development Times
Microsoft’s push into strengthening its first-party offerings in the face of declining hardware sales and a pivot into making Game Pass the pillar of its business strategy has resulted in the company having several promising games to look forward to,Avowedincluded. ButAvowed’s development actually dates back more than 5 years, with the game receiving its first official reveal as part of the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020. For reference,Hollow Knight: Silksong’s developmentbegan back in 2017, starting as a large DLC for the originalHollow Knightbefore morphing into a full sequel, with the title’s official reveal coming in 2019. Effectively,AvowedandSilksong’s development windows are roughly concurrent.
Similarly, neitherAvowednorSilksonghave had a release date scheduled throughout the entirety of their development, until this year whenAvowedlifted the veil on when players can expect the title. The January Xbox Developer Direct brought the announcement that players could expectAvowedin “Fall 2024”, with the release date eventually being solidified for December 2024 and then February 2025.Silksongcould do well to follow inAvowed’s footsteps, bringing a new trailer with a delayed but concrete release date that gives the game plenty of room to shine without other titles competing for the spotlight.
Silksong and Avowed Could Each Be a Major Boost to Game Pass Subscriptions
Microsoft’s shifting focus from hardware sales to Game Pass subscriptions has resulted in the service becoming one of the best deals in gaming, both in terms of the quantity of games available and the quality of the library. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard is already shaping up to be a major boon for the service, with the nextCall of Dutygame already confirmed as a Day-1 Game Pass release on the premium subscription tier. Moving forward, it’s practically a guarantee that everyXbox exclusive will arrive on Game Passat launch, andAvowedandSilksong’s release on the service could serve to benefit both the games and Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription numbers.
ThoughSilksongisn’t an Xbox exclusive, it did feature as part of the Xbox Games Showcase in 2022, leading many to believe that it would be a Day-1 Game Pass title upon launch. And while there’s still no concrete release date for the game yet,Silksong’s coming out of hidingcould pull anAvowed, announcing an official release date while also confirming the title’s availability on Game Pass. Not only could this drum up plenty of new hype forSilksong, it may end up pushing droves of players into getting a Game Pass subscription in anticipation of the title’s release. It’s a win-win for bothSilksongand Microsoft.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, and adventure through a whole new kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and brought to this unfamiliar world, Hornet must battle foes and solve mysteries as she ascends on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. As the lethal hunter Hornet, journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover ancient secrets tied to your nature and your past.
