Two Studios Postpone Game Releases to Avoid Competition with Hollow Knight Silksong’s Release Date

The Impact of Hollow Knight: Silksong on the Gaming Calendar

What ties together the anticipated releases of Hollow Knight: Silksong and Grand Theft Auto VI? Both titles boast immense popularity, prompting other game studios to postpone their launches to avoid being overshadowed by the hype surrounding these giants. Team Cherry has officially set the release date for Silksong on September 4, 2025, leading developers Aeternum Game Studios and Panik Arcade to announce their own delays.

Delays Due to Silksong’s Launch

In their statements, both developers acknowledged the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong as a significant reason behind their shifts, although the circumstances differ slightly between the two studios. Panik Arcade’s pending release of its innovative slot machine roguelike, CloverPit, is simply delayed by a few weeks—from its original launch on September 3 to September 26, 2025.

The studio conveyed this decision through a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We like a gamble, but this one is too risky lol. We want to give ourselves and our fans some time to enjoy Silksong, so we’re launching a few weeks later and will use the time to polish CloverPit even further.”

🚨GAME DELAY 🚨due to Silksong (can’t wait to play) launching just a day after CloverPit, we decided to delay our release our new release date is 26th Sept we poured our hearts into our little game, so we want to give it the best possible shot.thanks for understanding!! pic.twitter.com/QwKwBrBuFJ

— Panik Arcade 🕹️ making CloverPit 🍒🎰 (@PanikArcade) August 22, 2025

In this instance, Panik Arcade’s choice reflects a strategic move to maintain visibility upon release, especially considering CloverPit offers a contrasting gameplay experience compared to Silksong’s expansive 2D Metroidvania style.

Aeternum Game Studios Takes a Different Approach

Conversely, Aeternum Game Studios faces a more pressing challenge with its upcoming title, Aeterna Lucis. As a sequel to the acclaimed Aeterna Noctis released in 2021, their project aligns closely with the Metroidvania genre that Silksong embodies.

In a statement shared on X, Aeternum Game Studios elaborated, “Our initial plan was to launch it this September. However, after the announcement of Silksong, we realized our game wouldn’t receive the visibility it deserves. Competing against such a phenomenon wouldn’t just undermine our team’s efforts; it would also shortchange our players who deserve the best experience.”

As a result, Aeterna Lucis is now slated for release in 2026. This delay also arises from logistical issues such as acquiring development kits necessary for a simultaneous launch across next-generation platforms—an aspect confirmed by the studio’s acknowledgment of their need for additional preparation time.

Notably, Aeternum Game Studios hinted at challenges related to the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, a speculation supported by recent reports indicating that smaller studios often struggle to secure development kits while larger entities take precedence.

pic.twitter.com/CUomiRcsZU

— Aeternum Game Studios (@aeternathegame) August 22, 2025

Acknowledging the Influence of Team Cherry

Aeternum Game Studios took a moment to express gratitude towards Team Cherry, crediting their work on the Hollow Knight series as a pivotal factor in the resurgence of 2D Metroidvania games in today’s gaming industry. Their acknowledgment reflects a strong sense of community and inspiration that shapes the landscape of indie gaming.

The Future of Gaming Releases

As for the impending debut of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is confirmed for May 2026, it is likely that competing studios will have ample time to strategize around its release. The buzz surrounding GTA VI is expected to dominate the gaming conversation, much like Silksong is doing now.

In summary, the delays prompted by Hollow Knight: Silksong serve as a vivid reminder of how significant titles can reshape the gaming release calendar, impacting the strategies of both indie and larger gaming developers alike.

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