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After Hollow Knight: Silksong launched in September 2025, some users in Reddit’s r/Piracy community urged others to buy it rather than pirate it. Their comments cited the game’s US$20 U.S. launch price, a wish to support developer Team Cherry and the DRM-free PC release. The posts are a notable discussion, not evidence that the subreddit reached a consensus or that piracy declined.
What happened in the r/Piracy discussion?
Gaming outlets reported that pirated copies appeared quickly after release, while a subset of commenters in r/Piracy argued that people who could afford the game should purchase it. PC Gamer noted that other users still said they planned to pirate it; GamesRadar characterized the thread as anecdotal evidence from a small share of the game’s audience. The subreddit’s reported 2.4 million members at the time were not the number of people who commented, nor a representative sample of players. PC Gamer; GamesRadar.
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The word “cracked” needs qualification. The reports describe a DRM-free PC release and rapid availability through illicit channels; they do not establish that a DRM bypass or technical cracking event occurred. “Pirated copies appeared quickly” is the more precise description based on those reports.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhy did some commenters say to buy it?
The comments quoted by outlets point to affordability and support for Team Cherry, rather than to an official studio request. One commenter quoted by PC Gamer, No-Shape6053, wrote that the small team had “done right by their fans at every turn,” mentioning the DRM-free PC release and free copies for eligible original Hollow Knight backers. The commenter concluded: “This is a time where if we can afford to support them, we should.” That is an individual Reddit user’s view, not Team Cherry policy.
#1 Best Overall
- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
- Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
- Craft powerful tools! Master an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons, traps, and mechanisms to vanquish your enemies and explore new heights.
- Solve shocking quests! Hunt down rare beasts and solve ancient mysteries to grant the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope.
- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
The price was another stated reason. PC Gamer quoted a commenter who had considered pirating the game but changed their mind after learning its U.S. launch price was US$20, comparing it with other recent games they said cost around US$80. Those figures reflect the commenter’s reasoning and the game’s historical U.S. launch context, not a current price for every region or storefront.
GamesRadar and MeriStation quoted another user, Sythrin, saying, “This one, we should not pirate.” MeriStation also quoted iTzNowbie: “Support the devs if you can, they deserve it.” These comments illustrate the argument; they do not show how many people agreed or acted on it. MeriStation.
Rank #2
- 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.
What the comments do—and do not—show
The reporting documents people advocating purchase in a piracy-focused subreddit. It does not quantify piracy, establish a change in purchasing behavior, or show any effect on sales. MeriStation reported a launch-period peak of 535,213 concurrent Steam players; that is a historical figure attributed to the outlet, not a current player count, and it cannot establish whether the Reddit discussion affected sales or piracy.
No named Team Cherry representative was quoted discussing piracy in the coverage. The arguments in the thread should therefore be attributed to the commenters who made them, not presented as a studio statement or a broader community position.
Rank #3
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds and ruined cities.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!.Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique!.An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation..
Where to buy Silksong legitimately
Team Cherry’s games page lists Silksong for PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with links to official platform storefronts. Check the listing for your platform and region to confirm current availability and price; the US$20 figure above is the launch-era U.S. price, not a verified current regional price. Team Cherry’s games page.
On PC, Team Cherry’s page points to Steam, GOG, and Humble. Choose based on the platform you use, the storefront you prefer, and the regional price and availability shown at checkout. Team Cherry has also announced Silksong mini-figures with Fangamer; that is an optional collectible, separate from buying the game. Team Cherry.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
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.




