Hollow Knight: Silksong has launched at $20, a price welcomed by players but questioned by several independent developers, who fear it may set unrealistic expectations for other games.
RJ Lake, director of Unbeatable, commented on Bluesky that the game could easily have been priced higher. “Silksong should cost $40, and I’m not even joking,” Lake wrote.
He explained that Team Cherry’s unique circumstances, including developing without direct pay for long periods, allowed them to release the game at a lower price.
“They can price however low they want. Their return on investment is infinite no matter what they do. But by charging such a low amount, they are causing signals to fire off saying ‘this kind of game is worth twenty dollars.’”
Other developers echoed these concerns. Basti Games, creator of Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores, asked players if its upcoming game should match Silksong’s $20 price despite being shorter. Most fans encouraged sticking to the planned price, with one user writing, “Don’t hold yourself to standards of giants.”
In a Eurogamer interview, Toukana Interactive co-founder Zwi Zausch noted that Silksong’s price could influence decisions around the studio’s next project, Star Birds.
“We’re trying not to compete too directly with Silksong, both in terms of release date and pricing,” Zausch said, citing the challenges of a larger development team requiring sustainable revenue.
The debate highlights the ongoing challenge indie studios face in balancing fair wages with consumer expectations, especially as AAA titles rise to $70 or more.
Mike Rose, founder of No More Robots, noted that shifting spending habits add to the pressure: “People have less money now and are buying fewer games, so you have to set yourself up to hopefully be that one game they buy.”
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