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Yes—the promise was official. Team Cherry confirmed that Hollow Knight: Silksong would launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one, and the game released on September 4, 2025. It is therefore no longer an upcoming Game Pass release. Xbox’s launch materials listed access through Cloud, Console, and PC categories, subject to the active plan, region, device, and catalog status.
Was Silksong really promised for Game Pass on day one?
Yes. The definitive confirmation came from Team Cherry’s release announcement, which said Silksong would be available on Xbox Game Pass on its launch day: Team Cherry’s official announcement. Xbox then included the game in its September launch lineup and identified it for Cloud, Console, and PC Game Pass: Xbox Wire’s Game Pass listing.
This followed an earlier 2022 Xbox announcement that Silksong would join Game Pass. The later developer announcement and launch listings removed the uncertainty about whether the commitment was real or whether it would happen only after release.
What “day one” meant
Here, “day one” meant that Silksong entered the Game Pass catalog on its public release date, September 4, 2025, rather than being added weeks or months later. Xbox Wire’s launch-week schedule records that date: Xbox Wire launch schedule.
#1 Best Overall
- Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure.
- Journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover secrets tied to your nature and your past.
Day-one inclusion did not mean the game was Xbox-exclusive, that every Game Pass plan offered identical benefits, or that subscribers received a permanent license. Game Pass access is tied to a qualifying subscription and the title’s continued presence in the catalog.
Where can you play it through Game Pass?
Xbox Wire listed three Game Pass access categories:
- Console: Download the Xbox version on a compatible Xbox console through the Xbox ecosystem.
- PC: Install the PC version through the Xbox app and Microsoft Store ecosystem. This is a separate installation and entitlement from the Steam version.
- Cloud: Stream the game where cloud play is supported by the subscriber’s plan, country, device, account, and network.
The official Xbox product page remains the best place to check the current listing: Xbox game listing. Catalog membership, supported plans, console compatibility, cloud availability, and regional access can change, so check the live page and your account before subscribing specifically for this game.
Rank #2
- Explore a vast, beautiful, immersive, and dangerous world filled with gripping enemy encounters, challenging puzzles and thrilling escape sequences. Unravel Ori’s true destiny in this emotionally engaging, hand crafted story driven adventure.
- New combat system. Wield dozens of new spirit weapons, spells and skills offering new dynamic combat mechanics to the world of Ori.
- Customize your style of play. Choose your tools for adventure from dozens of newly acquired attacks, spells, and skills to match your style of play.
- Encounter epic adversaries. Face large epic bosses and seek support from discoverable allies who will provide services and cast optional quests to extend the adventure.
- Available exclusively on Xbox One consoles and Windows 10. (PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10.)
Which platforms received Silksong?
Game Pass covered Xbox-based access, but it was not the only way to play. Team Cherry listed releases for:
- Windows PC
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Xbox
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- DRM-free PC distribution through GOG and Humble Bundle
Steam also lists a September 4, 2025 release and a separate PC purchase page: Steam. A purchase on Steam, Nintendo, PlayStation, GOG, or Humble does not create a Game Pass entitlement, and a Game Pass entitlement does not transfer into those storefront libraries.
Game Pass or buying the game outright?
The practical choice depends on how and where you play.
Rank #3
- Explore the planet of Magalan with unprecedented freedom, using your trusted jetpack to traverse the map and even fly!
- Interact with a lived-in world, full of unique NPCs, who will remember what you’ve done and react accordingly, will join or leave your group depending on how you behave and are able to be killed, which will have an effect on the story
- Engage in fluid close and ranged combat with a massively improved control system
- Experience a story where your actions have consequences, immersing you in a world of moral decisions
| Option | Best fit | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Game Pass | Existing subscribers who want to play on Xbox or PC without a separate game purchase, or who want supported cloud access. | Requires a qualifying plan; catalog inclusion, plan benefits, regions, and cloud support can change. |
| Xbox purchase | Xbox players who want an Xbox storefront license rather than subscription access. | Does not provide a Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo, GOG, or Humble license. |
| Steam purchase | PC players who prefer Steam’s library, community, achievements, and installation tools. | Separate from the Xbox PC version and Game Pass entitlement. |
| Nintendo or PlayStation purchase | Players whose main system is Switch, Switch 2, PS4, or PS5. | These editions are not included through Xbox Game Pass. |
| GOG or Humble purchase | PC players prioritizing DRM-free distribution, subject to each store’s edition and system terms. | Verify operating-system support, updates, cloud saves, and current price with the vendor. |
Game Pass can have the lower immediate cost if you already maintain a qualifying subscription and only want to play through Xbox or PC. Buying outright avoids recurring subscription access and the possibility of catalog removal, but you pay the storefront’s current price. Do not treat either option as automatically cheaper without considering your existing plan, region, and expected play time.
Can newcomers play without the original Hollow Knight?
Silksong is a standalone sequel starring Hornet, so you do not need to own the first game to install it through Game Pass or buy it separately. Playing Hollow Knight first is a recommendation rather than a stated technical requirement: it can add context to the setting, characters, and references, while newcomers can begin with Silksong on its own. No claim that every story detail will be equally clear to first-time players has been established by the cited announcements.
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- Confirm the account: Sign into the Xbox account that holds the active subscription and search the official Xbox listing.
- Check the plan and region: Game Pass tiers, catalog access, pricing, and cloud support vary. Review the current plan details at Xbox Game Pass and confirm that your country and device are supported.
- Choose the right installation: On console, select the Xbox edition. On Windows, use the Xbox app or Microsoft Store route for the Game Pass PC entitlement; do not expect a Game Pass install to appear in Steam.
- Refresh the service: Update the Xbox app or console, sign out and back in, and restart the device. Heavy launch demand can delay search results or downloads.
- Check service status: If installation, entitlement checks, or cloud play fail, consult Xbox service-status information and retry after an outage clears.
- For cloud play, verify the basics: Confirm that your plan includes the feature, your region and device are supported, and your connection is stable enough for streaming.
If the live Xbox page no longer shows Game Pass access, that is a catalog or plan-status change rather than evidence that the original day-one announcement was false.
Availability and purchase checks
The phrase “coming to Game Pass” is now archival wording. Team Cherry later announced that the game was available and had launched day one on Xbox Game Pass: Team Cherry’s “available now” notice. As of August 18, 2026, the official Xbox listing still presents Silksong as a Game Pass title, but subscription catalogs are changeable. Check the live Xbox page immediately before subscribing or publishing a price, plan, or compatibility claim.
For non-Xbox purchases, use the relevant official storefront: Nintendo, PlayStation Store, GOG, or Humble Store. Regional prices, editions, upgrade policies, and platform support must be checked on those pages rather than inferred from the 2025 launch.
The verdict
The original claim was genuine: Hollow Knight: Silksong launched on September 4, 2025 and entered Xbox Game Pass on day one. An existing qualifying subscriber should start with the Xbox console, PC, or supported cloud route that their plan provides. If you want access independent of a subscription, play mainly on PlayStation or Nintendo, or prefer a specific PC storefront, buy the corresponding version outright.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
