Online Video Game Stores Crash Under High Demand for Hollow Knight: Silksong
SYDNEY — The internet was on fire as the biggest online video game stores crashed on Thursday, struggling to keep up with the overwhelming demand for Hollow Knight: Silksong — a game that has been highly anticipated throughout the year.
As the clock struck 15:00 BST, thousands of eager users flocked to the PC store Steam to purchase the game, only to be met with frustrating errors that persisted for over two hours, finally resolving around 17:30.
Not limited to Steam, social media was flooded with complaints from users attempting to buy Silksong on other platforms such as Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox game stores.
The buzz around the sequel to the original Hollow Knight, released in 2017 and boasting over 15 million copies sold worldwide, had fans on the edge of their seats.
Reports of the outage spiked on Downdetector, peaking at 3,750 before gradually declining. Angry fans criticized the platform for not offering a pre-order option, which they believed could have avoided the chaos altogether.
Frustrated users took to social media to share screenshots of error codes encountered while trying to complete their purchase, adding to the frenzy.
Even Humble Bundle, another digital storefront, had to temporarily halt sales due to the overwhelming demand, as fans scrambled to get their hands on the game.
Christopher Larkin, the composer behind the Hollow Knight series, humorously suggested the game may have “crashed the internet”, adding to the drama.
Despite the initial struggles, Steam reported over 100,000 players diving into the game within just thirty minutes of its launch, showcasing the immense demand for the highly anticipated sequel.
Not everyone was as fortunate, with some gamers expressing their frustration at being unable to purchase the game even hours after its release.
The Hollow Knight games, created by the small indie developer Team Cherry based in Adelaide, Australia, offer a unique and timeless experience in a fantasy world of fighter insects.
Team Cherry developer William Pellen emphasized the distinctive style of the Hollow Knight series, noting its timeless appeal that continues to attract new players.
As fans eagerly dive into the world of Silksong, the anticipation and excitement surrounding the game continue to grow, promising an unforgettable gaming experience for all.
