Team Cherry has shared a major update on the future of Hollow Knight and Hollow Knight: Silksong, confirming a free expansion for Silksong in 2026, a refreshed version of the original game for Nintendo Switch 2, and a wave of updates already rolling out on PC.

With Silksong’s launch year now behind it, the studio is looking ahead to what’s next, while also thanking the millions of players who helped make 2025 such a landmark year for the series.

Silksong Passes Seven Million Players

Team Cherry revealed that more than seven million players have purchased Hollow Knight: Silksong so far, with millions more playing through Xbox Game Pass. The studio described the response as far beyond expectations, even joking that the launch was big enough to crash storefronts.

The developers highlighted the growing community around the game, from fan art and mods to creative strategies and shared discoveries, calling it a huge motivation as work continues on expanding Silksong even further.

Sea of Sorrow Expansion Coming Free in 2026

The first major expansion for Hollow Knight: Silksong is officially on the way. Titled Hollow Knight: Silksong – Sea of Sorrow, the expansion is set to launch in 2026 and will be completely free for all players.

Sea of Sorrow is described as a nautically themed expansion, introducing new areas, bosses, tools, and challenges as Hornet’s journey continues. While Team Cherry is keeping most details under wraps for now, a teaser trailer shows Hornet standing against crashing waves, hinting at a darker and more perilous setting.

More information is expected closer to the expansion’s release window, which is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated content drops of 2026.

Hollow Knight Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Announced

Alongside Silksong’s expansion, Team Cherry confirmed it is working on an updated version of the original Hollow Knight for Nintendo Switch 2.

Image Credit: Team Cherry

The Hollow Knight Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will bring the original game in line with Silksong’s enhanced Switch 2 release, featuring higher frame rates, improved resolution, and additional graphical effects. Players who already own Hollow Knight on Nintendo Switch will be able to upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition for free when it launches in 2026.

In preparation for that release, Team Cherry is also updating all current versions of Hollow Knight across existing platforms, adding new features and fixing long-standing bugs.

PC Updates Available Now in Public Beta

PC players don’t have to wait until 2026 to see improvements. Team Cherry has already pushed many of the upcoming updates live via public beta branches on Steam and GOG.

These updates include full 16:10 and 21:9 aspect ratio support, making the game a better fit for Steam Deck users and ultrawide monitors. Additional fixes and enhancements are planned before the full release rolls out next year.

New Silksong Mini-Figurines Up for Pre-Order

To celebrate Silksong’s success, Team Cherry has teamed up with Studio Tyto and Fangamer to release a brand-new line of mini-figurines. The collection features Hornet alongside her allies and rivals, designed as compact, stylised collectibles.

Image Credit: Team Cherry

The mini-figures are available for pre-order now, either individually or as a complete set, with worldwide and EU or UK ordering options available through Fangamer. The full Hollow Knight: Silksong merchandise collection is also live for fans looking to expand their shelf displays.

Looking Ahead to a Big 2026

Both the Sea of Sorrow expansion and the Hollow Knight Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are planned for a broad 2026 release window. Silksong itself was one of the most celebrated games of 2025, earning five nominations at The Game Awards and winning Best Action and Adventure Game.

Team Cherry says it still has more plans for 2026 that it is not ready to reveal just yet. For now, the studio is taking a short break over the holidays before gearing up for what promises to be a massive year for Hollow Knight fans.

The post Hollow Knight: Silksong Gets Free DLC Sea of Sorrow Expansion and Original Game Refreshed for Switch 2 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 have wrapped up in London, and this year’s biggest achievement belongs to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The stylish action RPG swept the ceremony with a massive seven wins, including the most prestigious honour of all, Ultimate Game of the Year.

With more than 21 million votes cast across the globe, the 43rd annual show proved once again why it remains the longest-running publicly voted awards in gaming.

A Historic Night for Expedition 33

Expedition 33’s victory was nothing short of dominant. Developer Sandfall Interactive not only picked up seven Golden Joysticks, but also matched the all-time record previously set by Baldur’s Gate 3 and Larian Studios back in 2023.

The game impressed voters and critics alike with its emotional storytelling, expressive performances, and striking visual design, making its sweep feel well-deserved.

Here are the major awards Expedition 33 won:

• Best Storytelling
• Best Visual Design
• Best Soundtrack
• Best Lead Performer
• Best Supporting Performer
• Studio of the Year
• Ultimate Game of the Year

The Golden Joystick Awards’ most-prestigious award of all – Ultimate Game of the Year – goes to the unforgettable Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Huge congratulations to @SandfallGames and @Kepler_Interact! 🎉 #GoldenJoystickAwards pic.twitter.com/0BeDA5fHLT

— Golden Joysticks (@GoldenJoysticks) November 20, 2025

For a new IP to take home this many awards in one night is a rare achievement, marking Expedition 33 as one of the defining games of 2025.

A Ceremony Full of Chaos and Celebration

Resident Evil star Maggie Robertson, best known as Lady Dimitrescu, hosted the night with energetic flair. She brought humour, unexpected moments, and even a live song performance to the stage, keeping the London crowd entertained throughout the show.

The awards were streamed internationally, giving fans all over the world a front-row seat to the celebrations.

Standout Winners Beyond Expedition 33

While Expedition 33 took centre stage, a wide variety of games were recognised across the industry. Here are some of the biggest winners:

Indie and PC Highlights

• Best Indie Game: Blue Prince
• Best Indie Game, Self-Published: Hollow Knight: Silksong
• PC Game of the Year: Hollow Knight: Silksong

Multiplayer, Console, and Expansion Winners

• Best Multiplayer Game: PEAK
• Console Game of the Year: Ghost of Yōtei
• Best Game Expansion: Lies of P: Overture

Presentation and Audio Categories

• Best Audio Design: Ghost of Yōtei
• Best Game Trailer: Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2

Hardware and Adaptation Awards

• Best Gaming Hardware: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• Best Game Adaptation: Arcane Season 2
• Best Remake / Remaster: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Most Wanted Game

• GTA 6 claimed Most Wanted Game once again, keeping the hype for Rockstar’s upcoming release sky-high.

Long-running Games Still Going Strong

Live-service and ongoing titles also had their moment:

• Still Playing (Mobile): Pokémon Go
• Still Playing (PC & Console): Minecraft

Despite their age, both games continue to dominate engagement charts and remain cultural pillars.

A Landmark Year for Sandfall Interactive

With seven Golden Joystick Awards in their hands, Sandfall Interactive’s year ends on a high note. Expedition 33 has cemented itself as an emotional, beautifully designed, and mechanically rich adventure that resonated strongly with players worldwide.

The Golden Joysticks 2025 showcased the full spectrum of what makes gaming special, from fresh indie creativity to blockbuster spectacle. But this year unquestionably belongs to Expedition 33.

The post Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Crowned Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Game Awards 2025 nominees are here, and it looks like another massive year for Geoff Keighley’s annual showcase. The full list was revealed during a livestream on 17 November, confirming the six Game of the Year contenders along with every category from Best RPG to Best Esports Team.

Your nominees for GAME OF THE YEAR at #TheGameAwards 2025 on Thursday, December 11. pic.twitter.com/VQTXMfNHOQ

— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) November 17, 2025

If you skipped the announcement stream, don’t worry. We’ve wrapped all the key highlights in one place.

A Big Night Locked In For December

The Game Awards 2025 will stream live on 11 December, promising the usual blend of world-premiere trailers, celebrity appearances, live performances, and of course, actual awards sprinkled throughout the show.

As expected, this year’s nominees were selected by a global panel of journalists, critics, and industry veterans. GOTY nominations were leaked early, but the full list is now official.

Game of the Year 2025 Nominees

The big headline of the night is the GOTY lineup, which leans heavily into strong indie showings alongside blockbuster sequels.

The six GOTY nominees are:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Donkey Kong Bananza
• Hades II
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the entire show with 12 nominations, making it the most nominated game in The Game Awards history. Hades II and Silksong both earned major recognition, continuing the trend of indie titles punching well above their weight.

Fans can cast their vote for Game of the Year until 10 December.

Top Games With The Most Nominations

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – 12 Nominations

Image Credit: Kepler Interactive

The biggest standout this year, sweeping categories including Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score, and even Best Independent Game.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – 7 Nominations

Image Credit: Kojima Productions

Hideo Kojima’s highly anticipated sequel appears across multiple major categories, including Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, and Best Narrative.

Ghost of Yōtei – 7 Nominations

Image Credit: Sony

A visual and atmospheric hit, nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Audio Design.

Hades II – 6 Nominations

Image Credit: Supergiant Games

Supergiant Games continues its legacy with the sequel landing nods in GOTY, Best Direction, Best Score, Best Action Game, and more.

Hollow Knight: Silksong – 5 Nominations

Image Credit: Team Cherry

Team Cherry’s long-awaited release earns recognition across art, score, and action adventure categories.

Split Fiction – 4 Nominations

Image Credit: Hazelight Studios

A rising favourite in action adventure and multiplayer categories.

Other Major Categories To Watch

The Game Awards 2025 features dozens of categories. Here are some of the notable highlights:

Best Game Direction

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hades II
• Split Fiction

Best Narrative

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• Silent Hill f

Best Art Direction

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hades II
• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Independent Game

• Absolum
• Ball x Pit
• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Hades II
• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Indies continue to thrive, with Expedition 33 and Silksong competing against major studio titles in multiple categories.

Mobile, VR, and Family Categories

Mobile gaming gets its own spotlight with nominees like Destiny: Rising, Persona 5: The Phantom X, and Wuthering Waves. VR and AR also return with titles such as Alien: Rogue Incursion and Marvel’s Deadpool VR.

The Best Family Game category features heavy hitters including Donkey Kong Bananza, LEGO Party, Mario Kart World, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.

Esports Categories

Esports remains a huge part of the show, with categories covering athletes, teams, and the best competitive titles of the year.

Best Esports Game nominees:

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Valorant

Best Esports Athlete:

• brawk
• Chovy
• f0rsakeN
• Kakeru
• MenaRD
• Zyw0

Best Esports Team:

• Gen.G
• NRG
• Team Falcons
• Team Liquid PH
• Team Vitalit

What’s Next For The Game Awards 2025

With the nominees locked in, voting begins, discussions heat up, and fans start building their own predictions ahead of the December show. The Players’ Voice category will be revealed closer to the event, and if the Game Changer award returns this year, it will be announced during the ceremony.

The Game Awards 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive years yet, especially with indies standing toe to toe with major AAA releases.

We’ll keep you updated with any new announcements, reveals, and surprises as the countdown continues.

The post The Game Awards 2025: Full GOTY Lineup Revealed And Indies Dominate This Year appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Hollow Knight fans had been waiting years for this moment, and when Silksong finally dropped, the hype was so overwhelming it broke the internet. Literally. Steam crashed within minutes of launch as players across the globe rushed to grab Team Cherry’s long-awaited sequel, leaving thousands staring at error codes instead of Hornet’s first adventure.

silksong has crashed the entirety of steam and most twitch streamers are having a bad time pic.twitter.com/IqKxctPA1G

— Hayden Schiff (ᵔᴥᵔ) (@HaydenSchiff) September 4, 2025

It wasn’t just Steam, either. The PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo digital storefronts also struggled under the weight of demand, with players reporting outages, failed checkouts, and plenty of frustration. For a game that’s been teased, speculated about, and delayed for over half a decade, the chaos was almost inevitable.

Silksong’s launch overwhelmed the biggest platforms

At launch (3:00 pm BST), Steam simply couldn’t cope. Pages timed out, checkout carts broke, and anyone trying to buy Silksong was greeted with the dreaded “Something went wrong” message. According to outage tracker Downdetector, reports of issues spiked sharply during the first hour, with thousands of users all trying to smash that purchase button at once.

Image via Steam.com

Social media quickly filled with memes, rage posts, and disbelief. One fan joked they had “beaten the hardest boss” by finally getting their purchase to go through, while others called the outage “ridiculous” and “stupid” for not having pre-orders in place to stagger demand. Humble Bundle even temporarily listed the game as “unavailable” during the surge.

Despite the problems, the game’s popularity shone through. Within half an hour of launch, over 100,000 people were already playing on Steam, proving that while some struggled, plenty managed to get their hands on it. By the time the store began to stabilise, concurrent numbers soared to over 380,000.

Team Cherry’s tiny studio, massive impact

The wild launch day highlights just how big Silksong has become. Created by just three developers at Team Cherry in Adelaide, Australia, the Hollow Knight series has exploded from indie darling to one of the most-anticipated sequels in recent gaming history. The original sold over 15 million copies, and Hornet’s starring role has been hyped for years.

In fact, just days ago Team Cherry officially confirmed Hollow Knight Silksong’s release date, putting an end to years of speculation. That announcement alone had fans buzzing, the launch itself has now cemented Silksong’s place as one of 2025’s biggest releases.

The funniest crash of the year?

For some, the chaos was more entertaining than frustrating. Composer Christopher Larkin even joked that Silksong may have “crashed the internet,” while others on X shared screenshots of endless Steam errors as proof of their suffering. And while the lack of pre-orders might have saved some headaches, it also created one of the most memorable (and chaotic) game launches we’ve seen in years.

>No Preorders
>$20 bucks
>Crashes all stores
>No review copies
>Breaks 500k players on Steam alone in hours

Silksong has annihilated AAA gaming and set a precedent. pic.twitter.com/cbqrYJqDEw

— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) September 4, 2025

As of now, the dust has settled and players are finally diving into Hornet’s adventure without issue. But one thing’s for sure, if you’re a developer eyeing a launch window near Silksong, you might want to steer clear. The Hollow Knight community has proven it can bring the world’s biggest stores to their knees.

The post Hollow Knight Silksong Crashes Steam and Console Stores on Launch Day appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Gamescom Opening Night Live has always been a bit different from Geoff Keighley’s other big showcases. It might not reach the hype levels of The Game Awards, but it still brings plenty of heavyweight reveals, updates, and a few surprises ahead of the full Gamescom convention, which runs from August 20 to 24.

The stage is set 🤩 https://t.co/J9W0QTILbf

— gamescom (@gamescom) August 19, 2025

This year’s ONL put a spotlight on some of the heavy hitters we already knew about, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Resident Evil: Requiem, while mixing in fresh announcements and unexpected throwbacks. If you missed it, here’s a rundown of everything that showed up on stage, with every title getting its share of the spotlight.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Shows Off Co-Op and Multiplayer

The night kicked off with Black Ops 7, giving us a closer look at campaign gameplay and confirming four-player co-op. We also got details on multiplayer modes, including traditional 6v6, massive 20v20 maps, and the return of Dead Ops Arcade 4.

Zombies wasn’t forgotten either, though a full Zombies reveal is coming in September, followed by Call of Duty NEXT on September 30. The first beta runs October 2–8, ahead of the full launch on November 14. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass players will also get access with early bonuses like the Reznov Pack.

They said 4-player co-op campaign?! Really #BlackOps7 ? #OpeningNightLive pic.twitter.com/tB3mKHMzBe

— gamescom (@gamescom) August 19, 2025

Ghost of Yotei Adds Free Co-Op Legends Update

Ghost of Yotei may be dropping on October 2, but that’s not the end of the road. Sony confirmed a free Legends multiplayer expansion is coming in 2026, letting players tackle challenges together in co-op.

World of Warcraft: Midnight Brings Back Multi-Raid Tiers

Blizzard surprised World of Warcraft fans with the Midnight expansion reveal. Instead of the usual one-raid-per-season approach, Midnight’s first tier will feature three raids. That could shake up the Race to World First scene in a big way.

pic.twitter.com/bZxm0tJAbm

— gamescom (@gamescom) August 19, 2025

Players will also get the Haranir as a new allied race, with classes ranging from Warrior to Druid. On top of that, solo players get the new Prey hunting system, unlocking cosmetics, mounts, and gear for personal housing.

Monster Hunter Wilds x Final Fantasy 14 Collab

Capcom and Square Enix are linking up again. Monster Hunter Wilds will welcome Chocobos and other FF14 goodies in September, while FF14 players get Wilds-inspired mounts like Seikrets and new monster fights in October.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Expands — and Heads to Switch 2

The Order of Giants expansion for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle lands September 4. ONL gave us a deeper look at the story — plus the big surprise that the game is heading to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Revealed

Warner Bros is reviving the Lego Batman franchise with Legacy of the Dark Knight. This time it’s an open-world Gotham, packed with traversal options, Arkham-style combat, and nods to different Batman eras. Players can also tweak difficulty for extra challenge.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Finally Shows Up

Yes, it’s real. Team Cherry appeared on stage with a short gameplay snippet of Hollow Knight: Silksong, confirming a 2025 release window. A full showcase is happening August 21, where fans can expect more details — including, hopefully, a release date.

Sonic x Pac-Man Crossover

Sega and Bandai Namco are trading mascots. Pac-Man is joining the roster of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds in early 2026, complete with a themed stage. Meanwhile, Sonic comes to Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac in late 2025, with a Green Hill Zone level included.

Legendary collab! Don’t sleep on the #OpeningNightLive pre-show! 😱 pic.twitter.com/Vv2uQp6y4Q

— gamescom (@gamescom) August 19, 2025

Resident Evil: Requiem Brings Horror Back

Capcom’s Resident Evil: Requiem got fresh gameplay, spotlighting Grace Ashcroft as she returns to the site of her mother’s murder. The game launches February 27, and attendees at Gamescom will get hands-on before more story and gameplay details are revealed.

Black Myth: Zhong Kui Announced

Instead of expanding Black Myth: Wukong, Game Science revealed a direct sequel: Black Myth: Zhong Kui. The game will follow the ghost-catching deity who straddles the line between humanity and hell. No release date yet, as it’s still in early development.

Other Reveals You Shouldn’t Miss

Alongside the big hitters, ONL packed in plenty of trailers and updates:

• Fallout Season 2 trailer showed New Vegas, releasing December 17.
• Silent Hill F dropped a trailer with its new English voice cast ahead of September 25.
• Void/Breaker launched into early access on Steam right after the show.
• World of Tanks 2.0 goes live September 3, plus a spinoff hero shooter World of Tanks: Heat.
• Sekiro: No Defeat anime is coming to Crunchyroll in 2026.
• Onimusha: Way of the Sword showed new gameplay.
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 announced for 2026.
• The Outer Worlds 2 drops October 29.
• Rhythm game Unbeatable launches November 6.
• Valor Mortis, a soulslike set in an alternate Napoleonic War, revealed by the Ghostrunner devs.
• Lords of the Fallen 2 trailer confirmed for 2026.
• Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault enters early access October 23.
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 finally launches October 21.
• Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion demo is live now, full launch September 5.
• Project Spectrum, a horror-infused PvPvE FPS from Team Jade, was revealed.
• Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 gets its Legacy of the Forge expansion on September 9.
• Cult of the Lamb announced the Woolhaven expansion for early 2026.
• Age of Empires IV comes to PS5 on November 4 with all expansions.
• Ron Gilbert’s Death by Scrolling got its quirky debut

The post Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025: Every Game Reveal, Trailer, and Update appeared first on Shane the Gamer.