Hollow Knight: Silksong Unveils Free ‘Sea of Sorrow’ Expansion and Record-Breaking Success

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Quick Read

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong has sold over seven million copies, with millions more playing via Xbox Game Pass.
  • Team Cherry announced a free ‘Sea of Sorrow’ expansion, launching in 2026 and continuing Hornet’s adventure.
  • Sea of Sorrow introduces new oceanic areas, tools, and gameplay mechanics.
  • Hollow Knight is getting a refreshed Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, with free upgrades for existing owners.
  • New Silksong-themed merchandise, including mini-figurines, is now available for pre-order.

Silksong’s Milestone: Seven Million Strong and Counting

When Team Cherry first began work on Hollow Knight: Silksong, few could have predicted the tidal wave of enthusiasm that would follow. Now, as 2025 draws to a close, the numbers are in: over seven million copies sold, with millions more diving into Pharloom’s depths via Xbox Game Pass (Team Cherry, XboxEra). For a small indie studio from Adelaide, these figures are nothing short of transformative—enough, they joked, to crash the digital storefronts upon launch.

But the story here isn’t just about sales. It’s about community. Silksong’s players have built a vibrant ecosystem of art, mods, guides, and shared discoveries, fueling a sense of camaraderie that stretches far beyond the game itself. Team Cherry’s end-of-year message brims with gratitude, crediting this passion as a key motivator for the studio’s next chapter.

Sea of Sorrow: A Free Expansion Anchored in Adventure

Just when fans thought the journey was winding down, Team Cherry dropped a bombshell: Silksong’s first major expansion, Sea of Sorrow, is set to launch in 2026—and it will be free for every player (TechTimes, 80.lv). The announcement, delivered alongside a moody teaser, hints at a daring new direction for Hornet’s story. Players will soon chart a course across and beneath salt-stricken seas, discovering mysterious oceanic environments rendered in the franchise’s signature hand-drawn style.

What sets Sea of Sorrow apart isn’t just its setting. The expansion promises to deepen Silksong’s core narrative rather than offering a standalone side story. Hornet’s journey continues, evolving organically as new threats and secrets emerge from the briny depths. For longtime fans who waited seven years for Silksong’s release, this feels less like bonus content and more like an authentic extension of the adventure they cherish.

New Tools and Evolving Gameplay

Team Cherry has kept many details of Sea of Sorrow under wraps, stoking speculation and excitement. What we do know is that the expansion will introduce new tools and mechanics that could reshape how players traverse, fight, and solve puzzles. The promise of deeper environmental storytelling and hidden secrets signals a commitment to meaningful evolution, not just cosmetic upgrades (TechTimes).

Players are particularly intrigued by Hornet’s Silk Skills—a suite of abilities that has already proven essential for surviving Pharloom’s winding paths. With new tools on the horizon, the expansion could redefine what it means to master Silksong’s combat and traversal. Will these additions upend the game’s notorious difficulty curve, or simply add new layers of strategy? For now, the specifics remain closely guarded.

Hollow Knight Refresh: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and More

Silksong’s success has also reignited interest in its predecessor. Team Cherry announced that Hollow Knight is being updated for the Nintendo Switch 2, bringing with it all the graphical enhancements and high frame-rate modes pioneered in Silksong (Team Cherry, TheGamer). Owners of the original game on Switch will be able to upgrade for free when the new edition launches in 2026—a gesture that speaks to the studio’s ongoing commitment to its fanbase.

In the lead-up to that release, updates are rolling out for all versions of Hollow Knight, including support for ultrawide monitors and additional bug fixes. PC players can already test many of these improvements via public beta branches on Steam and GOG. It’s a comprehensive refresh designed to keep both newcomers and veterans engaged as the series moves forward.

Celebrating the Community: Merch, Figurines, and Holiday Sales

Beyond gameplay, Team Cherry is embracing the culture that has sprung up around Hollow Knight. A new line of mini-figurines, crafted in collaboration with Studio Tyto and Fangamer, captures Hornet, her friends, and rivals in collectible form. These figurines are available for pre-order, complementing a range of Silksong-themed merchandise that celebrates the franchise’s unique aesthetic.

Meanwhile, both Hollow Knight and Silksong are featured in holiday sales across digital storefronts, inviting new players to join the adventure or longtime fans to share it with friends and family. It’s a festive close to a year marked by extraordinary milestones and heartfelt community engagement.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Team Cherry?

As Team Cherry prepares to take a well-earned break before 2026, they hint at even more surprises to come. The studio’s message is clear: while Sea of Sorrow is the headline, the world of Hollow Knight is far from finished. The developers are keeping future plans tightly under wraps, fueling speculation and anticipation throughout the fandom.

For now, the focus is on celebrating what has been achieved. Silksong’s journey from anticipation to critical acclaim—boasting a 91/100 average on OpenCritic and 97% recommendation rate (TheGamer)—is testament to the power of small teams with big dreams. As the series expands, so too does its legacy, anchored by the enduring connection between creators and players.

Team Cherry’s approach—delivering substantial, free content while nurturing a passionate community—sets a benchmark for indie game development. Sea of Sorrow isn’t just an expansion; it’s a promise that the world of Hollow Knight will keep evolving, shaped as much by its creators as by the players who explore its depths.

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