Hollow Knight: Silksongwon’t feature any kind of microtransactions, a Team Cherry official has confirmed. This clarification was offered in response to a recentHollow Knight: Silksongage rating that suggested the opposite.
Following over six years of development, the much-anticipatedHollow Knightfollow-up is currently on track for release in the second half of 2025. Ahead of its launch, the game’s Xbox Store page was recently updated with a “Teen” ESRB rating. The accompanying description cited “in-game purchases” as one of the factors preventing a lower classification, suggesting thatHollow Knight: Silksongwould includepacks of “random items” that can be obtained for real money.
Some fans immediately inquired about the listing’s veracity with Team Cherry representative Matthew ‘Leth’ Griffin, who dismissed the rating as inaccurate. “‘In-Game Purchases’ should not be listed there; there isn’t anything like that in the game,” the PR rep explained, as first picked up byPCGamesN. In a separate social media post shared on June 13, Griffin promised to look into the erroneousHollow Knight: Silksonglisting.
Hollow Knight: Silksong May Still Be Waiting for Official ESRB Rating
Within 24 hours of that pledge, thegame’s Xbox Store pagewas updated to reflect a lower rating: Everyone 10+, citing “mild blood” and “fantasy violence” as the key elements informing the classification. This rating is consistent with the Voidheart Edition of the first game. However, theESRB databasedoesn’t yet include aSilksongentry, suggesting that the newly revised Xbox Store rating is merely a placeholder. Alternatively, publishers can request confidentiality from the ESRB to delay public disclosure of a game’s rating—a step Team Cherry may have taken in this case.
While the ESRB database has yet to include any mention ofSilksong, the game has been rated in Australia since April 2024. However, the timing of such age classifications is not always indicative of a game’s development status, as ratings are typically based on submitted descriptions—something that can occur at any stage, though it usually happens closer to completion.
“In-Game Purchases” should not be listed there; there isn’t anything like that in the game.
Team Cherry’s confirmation thatSilksongwon’t feature microtransactions marks the second time in less than a week the developer has addressed confusion about its upcoming title. Shortly after the June 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, the studio clarified thatHollow Knight: Silksong’s release date is not tied to the ROG Xbox Ally X, a forthcoming handheld that was shown running the game during the event. The metroidvania itself is still expected to launch in the second half of 2025, most likely around the holiday season.
