Given the success of Hollow Knight on the Switch eShop, it made sense for its developer Team Cherry to consider a physical edition in order to continue sales momentum. To make this happen, the talented people behind the title partnered with Skybound Games - a division of Skybound Entertainment - to make this happen.
The announcement was originally made in Variety way back in August, and at the time, the game was planned to be released in Spring 2019. In the latest update, Skybound Games has issued a tweet out of the blue, revealing it is "saddened" to no longer be bringing Hollow Knight to multiple platforms. Here it is in full:
Team Cherry followed up this tweet with its very own blog post explaining exactly why it wouldn't be going ahead with this release and also mentioned how it would continue to investigate other ways to make a physical version of Hollow Knight a reality:
We’re regretfully announcing the cancellation of physical copies of Hollow Knight and our partnership with Skybound Games.
As a team of 3 people still in intensive production of Hollow Knight, taking the game into the retail space (even with the extensive assistance of Skybound) proved more work than we could reasonably manage.
In future we will investigate other ways to deliver physical versions of Hollow Knight, though likely that will be in smaller quantities.
We’d like to thank Skybound for the amazing opportunity they provided, and for their professionalism and enthusiasm the whole way.
Are you disappointed to hear Skybound won't be releasing a physical version of Hollow Knight? Did you download a digital copy of this game? Tell us below.
[source twitter.com, via teamcherry.com.au]
Comments 103
May as well skip Christmas this year then.
@JHDK Helps me out, all my money is smash money this Christmas.
So it will be Limited Run Games if it ever happens at all. I'll take the next chance to get it for small change in the Mexican eShop then.
Given that a digital release is more cost effective then a physical release, this does not surprise me. Digitial is the new standard. Physical release game are slowly becoming obsolete.
No physical, no buy. I either own my games or I don’t.
@Shade_Koopa Yeah, the new standard until the servers get shut down for good, and you can no longer re-download your games 😜😒. This is coming from someone, who slowly over the last few years, prefers digital for easier access.
Dag-nabbit! I was waiting for the physical release. Hopefully they regroup and find another publisher soon.
Great game but smart decision.
@Valdney I own a digital copy of Hollow Knight. Unless I lose my console I can always play the game. How would you lose a digital license of a game? Do they expire or something?
Noooooooooooooooooooooo... I could go on forever.
Maybe Hollow Knight has been Delayed Because of POKEMON.
I want to give them a pass because they made one of the truly best metroidvanias in history, but the "we only have 3 people" excuse doesn't hold much weight when physical versions of Axiom Verge have been released, and that was a one man team....
@goggles789 It's hard to move to the next generation for some people. Disclaimer, I absolutely love physical games and always get it on some must have games for me.
Ugh, I was waiting for the physical version to buy this game. Looks like I’ll be waiting a while longer.
Good game but no point. This is a $15 Indie game... What digital is for.
That's dissappointing. Hollow Knight is one of the few indies I was actually really hoping for in a physical version. If they ever figure out a way to make it happen, I'd buy it.
Don't care even one bit. The game isn't all that great and I have no idea where all the hype comes from.
Noooo! Looking forward to their next opportunity to release this physically. Sounds like a great game and it's why I hold of buying them for over a year.....
That sucks for people who were waiting, but it's one of my favorite games of all time and I definitely recommend buying it digitally if you have to.
@90sRetroGaming I already have them downloaded. And when the servers do go offline, I'm assuming this is past the Switch's era. Whether I'm going to play them long term is irrelevant. Most gamers beat the game are done with it (excluding game with online or multiplayer play).
Glad I'm not a physical absolutist any more.
There are still several smaller alternate publishers who would no doubt be willing to publish Hollow Knight in smaller quantities. Limited Run, Super Rare, Fangamer, iam8bit, Special Reserve, Play-Asia, etc.
Perfectly acceptable. While physical copies of games are always nice, I never have any expectations for indie titles and smaller games to be released physical. As long as digital only games are priced accordingly (looking at you, World of Final Fantasy), I have no problem with it.
Awwww that's no bueno
I would’ve liked to own this as a physical cart, but since I’ve already bought it digitally I don’t really feel too bummed about this.
Though I do get why a lot of people would’ve preferred to buy the physical version.
@Valdney People like you who are anti-digital are essentially a vocal minority these days. You guys really like to make your presence known on message forums but as far as the game buying public is concerned the vast majority of people aren't like that.
@goggles789 Anti-digital people are really weird, they have all kinds of confused beliefs about digital games that is at odds with reality. If you try to correct them they will just get all defensive and start in on some rant about why they think digital games are the worst thing ever.
Real bummer. I just finished the game today and was absolutely in love with it. Don't miss Hollow Knight, it's one of the best Metroidvanias ever made
I can wait. so long as it is published one day! ..still got a plethora of games to play in the mean time
Bummer whould have bought it.
I was thinking of getting it, but now I don't regret that I picked up the digital version for 4 GBP. I didn't like it that much anyway, there are better Metroidvanias out there.
Still, physical is always preferable in my book.
@Agramonte
It is, however, also a great game, and an ENORMOUS one, both in terms of content, and file size. It's three and a half gigabyte.
Aside from the price, this kind of game is what physical is for.
@JayJ Both your comments are pretty horrible and derogatory. If you're getting negative responses from people I suggest you think about the way you communicate with others.
Was very interested in this game and was holding out for a physical version.
Guess I won’t be playing it, then.
@Old-Red I don't really see how the comments are horrible or derogatory. Presumptuous? yes. They simply stated some observations they've had and their opinion based on those observations. I don't think they had any ill intent.
@Valdney Given I can log into my Xbox One and download 360 games I bought 13 years ago and install OG Xbox games say on my shelf for 15 years.
I can log into my PSVita and download PSP games I bought 12 years ago.
I can pop on the App Store and download iOS apps and games I downloaded 10 years ago.
Hundreds of games, all but one not stood on my shelf.
A lack of a physical release in 2018 isn’t a reason to not buy a game. You’re missing out on some top drawer releases ☺️
@javiboy2 Starting your points with 'people like you... or so and so are just weird...' is looking to upset or provoke someone, plain and simple.
@Old-Red I suppose that's true. I never see words like weird or odd to mean "bad" unless its stated so. "People like you" is more ambiguous (at least to me). Since the post wasn't directed to me I didn't see as much an issue but I can see how it would upset others.
Well there are at least small publishers doing this that could DOTHIS!!
REEEEEEEEE
After realizing shipping from US to EU is 15 dollars, I gave up on importing anyway.
People who refuse to play games that don’t have physical editions are missing out on great games like this.
... But I skipped the sale on the digital version because that was when they announced the physical version... Hopefully, there'll be another sale, or another go for a physical version. Maybe a Super Rare Limited Run?
@Grant007 LOL
I wanted to buy the game because the physical release.
Now, it's over. I don't buy digital content.
This is sad. Very sad only.
I was looking forward for that physical, well atleast got the game from last month humblebundle.
If retail is too hard, it's gotta be LRG. Then maybe Best Buy can pick it up so it IS retail...kinda.
I don't really get this collecting stuff. We'll I sort of do, it's because some people collect stuff, I guess.
A £50 download game can usually be purchased as a physical version for maybe £40. Yet a game like Hollow Knight costing £10 to download would be priced around £25.
So the box and insert is just for collecting and displaying.
I guess I'm a play and trade player with most games. Getting at least a 40% return on my original purchase. Collecting is expensive and eventually most collections become worthless when you grow out of the collecting phase.
I have a few games for my Switch I regret buying and, I intend to sell them on eBay or something. If they were not physical copies I would be stuck with these bad games that, I will probably never play again, forever. And games on cards tend to retain their value pretty good!
@Shade_Koopa They are making it the new standard. And when physical versions come later their sales are lower than they could have been because many people already have them digital and doesn't want to double dip.
But the real disgrace here is when first-party titles cost MORE digital than physical, like in the Switch. They're more cost effective, yes, but it doesn't show in the price.
@JayJ You mean as apposed to someone who's pro digital calling anti digital people weird for no reason,other than because its not your preference. Why does it bother you how people buy their games?I prefer physical personally because the push by these publishers in the future is stream only. Microsoft are going for this already with their next console if the rumours are true. I personally don't like this direction because you're then at the mercy of these publishers as to how long certain games will remain available and also how good or bad your internet is. And lets be honest,the big publishers these days have already got too much power over consumers with them reselling you original content that's already in a game,but also pushing you to spend more on content in the game you can't get unless you hand over more money. The stream model for the Switch in japan is a perfect example because you being charged to only rent the game for a certain amount of time,you never actually own it. Maybe seen as the future in terms of technology advancing, but its certainly not advancing your rights as a consumer when your options are lessened to being outright removed
@BenAV Are you saying digital only games should be priced fairly like World of Final Fantasy? Because I personally thought $40 was a very fair price for that game plus the $16 (price on ps4) dlc upgrade bundled in that price. I laid $60 for the game on ps4 when it first came out so paying only $24 more than the dlc would have cost me to get it on the portable Swith was a great deal.
I picked up a bunch of retail indie games lately: The Escapists 2, Vostok Inc., Flipping Death, SteamWorld Dig 2, and Lumo.
I was looking forward to add Hollow Knight to my physical collection, but maybe it's not the time for it yet. Maybe it's time to order Dead Cells instead.
Shame. I think I would have double-dipped (oh, triple, I forgot that I bought this on PC, too.) and I rarely do that just for a physical copy on the same console.
Digital does need to grow up in some regards, I think. I like to let people borrow a game to try it, or trade, or sell. Despite other conveniences digital doesn't have nice alternatives to those possibilities. It would be nice to have a promise or guarantee that they will release the games or console from the DRM when the servers that manage it are shut down.
If it wasn't for the prices, I'd be almost all digital just for the convenience, though.
@RadioHedgeFund I can log onto the DSi Store and, no, wait... I can log onto the Wii Shop and, no, wait... I can log onto the PSP Store and, no, wait... Yes, you can download them on the PS3 (or PC) and transfer to the PSP, or on the Vita, but how long until those servers are shut down as well? Why would Sony keep a bunch of old files on old servers when barely anyone still accesses them? Besides, there are many examples of games no longer being available for sale for whatever reason, and not all of them even appear in your purchase history anymore (although curiously they're still available on Sony's servers if you have a direct link to them).
Never heard of skybound so not surprised. But really wanted a physical version of a brilliant game
And also: should your account be banned for any which reason, good luck getting back the stuff you paid for. I'll admit I don't know about Sony or Microsoft's policies regarding the matter, but Nintendo actually blocks banned accounts from accessing the eShop, regardless of how much money they spent on there or how much they wanted to spend on future purchases.
@goggles789 Many of the conveniences of digital will go away when the servers that support the games go away (archive and re download, download onto new devices). Especially if you have trouble with your hardware.
You do have a point that people who prefer physical are a bit paranoid about the games just going away. Sadly any physical game that needs an update or download is in the same boat and it is getting uncommon to have otherwise.
Also, any primarily online game has an expiration date: physical or digital (with the only exception being fan-hosted servers which is a huge ordeal in some cases).
@WillTheLion $55 (AUD) for an eShop exclusive is too much for my liking. If they want to charge near retail price then make a retail version. It's like $20+ more than any of the 100-200 eShop games I've bought on the Switch so far.
@c2017nlifemedia Then don't get yourself banned I guess.
@BenAV Considering Nintendo hands out bans if you so much as sneeze in the wrong direction, that's easier said than done.
I'll stick with my Steam version then. I would have double-dipped though. /shrug
I am all for physical releases of indie titles but I wish companies would release them in stores and on the eShop on the same day. Annoying when you buy it digitally and then a month or so later they announce a physical copy.
@90sRetroGaming The idea that physical games are a safeguard against loss just isn't true anymore. It was true back in the days when a game was released in its final and immutable form.
But now that games are loaded up with patches and DLC after release, most physical copies aren't going to contain the game you remember playing anyway.
I get the allure of physical copies. I'm obsessed with my old cartridges. But people seem to be radically overestimating the amount of protection they provide. If you want to replay Hollow Knight in 20 years, you're not going to reach for your physical Switch copy. You'll probably just download it for 99 cents on whatever digital marketplace has it on sale.
@Retr0gamedad The very nature of indie developers is that they don't necessarily have the money up-front to support a physical release on day one.
@c2017nlifemedia Don't sneeze in the wrong direction.
@Shade_Koopa
yep. added on that N isn't eating the cost of carts and passing it on to the publisher.
GG N. yet another idiot feather in your cap.
Eh, that's fine. I'd rather them concentrate on that Hornet DLC anyhow. Then they can just release the entire package once it's done.
I have it digitally so I'm in no hurry. Once Super Rare or LRG gets ahold of them, I'll double dip. This is a game I want to have to replay in 20 years.
I just wanted it for collectibility.
They'll sign with LRG. Guaranteed. In fact I bet LRG has already been knocking on their door.
To naysayers Physical will always trump(pun) digital. I can always get another Switch and play right away. And like others said if they remove from server or no longer offer it what then? I rather get Physical as First choices. Alot of my games so far got dupped on 4 digital that became Physical. And that isn't the double dipping I want to do. So no Physical Option then No buying good luck in your business model but Switch Owner like me want physical.
@JaxonH "I just wanted it for collectibility.
They'll sign with LRG. Guaranteed. In fact I bet LRG has already been knocking on their door."
My exact thought. If LRG or SRG can make it physical they will get the sales that no laughing matter.
Ugh, I was patiently waiting for a physical release.
Did a lot of people not read the article?? This was never coming out this year physical to begin with. Even I knew that when it was first announced. No way I was waiting half a year to pay double the price.
"To make this happen, the talented people behind the title partnered with Skybound Games - a division of Skybound Entertainment - to make this happen."
When you gotta reach that word quota. 🤣
@subpopz lest one forgets you better be ready to spend money on a high capacity microsd card then. So you're still paying either way regardless. Physical for the most part eliminate the need for the storage space at the start that is why physical is better to start with. Yes, there are cheap digital games but that requires Storage space and if you don't invest in bigger microsd you going to find that sooner than later. Take for example Cat Quest was digital and I waited and guess what I now have it Physical so there is something that was only mentioned as Digital then became Physical.
For those who keep saying they only “own” their game if it’s a physical cart, I guess I don’t own all the games on my micro sd card and any backups I’ve made? As long as I own a working Switch, I will be able to play any and all games that I have purchased digitally. I don’t have the same confidence with the physical carts. A cart can get lost, or even just stop working. You have to buy a new one. If it’s gone from the digital stores, say 15 years from now, it’s gone. Something could happen to every one of my backups, too, though far less likely. Life is uncertain. Just buy the games you want to play, and enjoy them now.
People saying "no physical no buy" are being a bit ridiculous here. It sucks that Team Cherry couldn't make it happen with Skybound, but these things happen.
What people need to remember is that Team Cherry is a 3-person team. It's unreasonable to demand a 3-person team release their game physically. This isn't a big company like Capcom or SEGA choosing to release, say, Phoenix Wright digital-only. This is a very small company, so a digital-only release is perfectly understandable and reasonable.
It sucks to hear, but its understandable. I wish Team Cherry the best!
@Razieluigi I get that except for the fact that most of the titles that this happens with have released on steam and other consoles well ahead of time and were massive successes: which has proven to translate to high sales on switch.
Thank goodness I wen't for the download when it was discounted. However, if there ever was a download-game that warranted a physical release its this one. Its a massive game. As far as size and amount of secrets go, this is the new benchmark for Metroidvania's. The sidescrolling Metroids aren't nearly as big as this one!
Meh, I have physical copy for PC.
Damn I was waiting for the physical release of this. Guess I'll have to get it digitally...
@90sRetroGaming lots of people got burned over the PT debacle. I prefer physical over digital any day.
That's really regrettable, because it's one of the Switch physical games I'm most looking forward to.
It sounds like I'd have to wait for something like a Limited Run Games print.
Seems to me, Nintendo needs to just go on and acquire Team Cherry so we can get the physical copy AND get the knight of Hollow Knight in SMASH. - Come on Nintendo!!! Do, otherwise Microsoft is going to suck them up. - It’s a great game!
Was not a fan of Hollow Knight and I really tried to like it. Something about it just didn't click with me. I almost think the world was too large.
Put this way even StarDew valley is a Japan Physical version so tell me it can't be down at least? And how about OxenFree and Kingdom New lands both from LRG and where on Digital when I got them but also bought the physical when released. I think if they pitch it right there will be a Game maker like LRG or SRG that will support such release. It's prime examples like these that is the reason Switch owners would like the physical option. And to tell us we should be Digital is missing demographics that whom would actually buy them even is they have like 2,000 only. They would buy them like others and me. We would see whom was faster on the clicks to get them. At least at that point they have a better where abouts the buyers.
Who cares? I enjoyed Shovel Knight and the Messenger much more than this. The game has unbalanced difficulty, overwhelming content (not in a good way), horrible map, I could go on and on why I hated this game.
@proof21 94th comment opens with "who cares?" Okay.
This is a game that some will never like... just like just about every game. It is high quality and has flaws... just like every highly rated and popular game.
I love this game, but found a couple elements unfortunate. I definitely understand why some don't get hooked, as I found the opening to be a little too vacant and mysterious for too long. I like to have optional content a little more clearly defined at times, too, which this game has a problem with.
Still, it's one of my favorites. Do you care if your favorite games get released on physical? That's really what most of the discussion is here.
Is it just me, or do Nintendo fans care more about physical than digital, compared to Sony and Microsoft fans. I’m probably wrong in that statement but I get that notion for some reason.
It's a great game still. I don't like Metroid, but I LOVED this game
"Other ways to bring a physical copy to Switch."
??? Huuuuhhhhh ???
Ummm.......unless they plan on making unlicensed and unauthorized (and possibly patent infringing) cartridge designs, I just can't see it, but I am VERY curious about that statement and just what the hell they had in mind
@Mgene15 it's probabaly the lack of storage on Nintendo consoles is what causes the need for physical. I usually buy physical if it's a large download but will opt for digital if it's a lot cheaper and lower file size. Hollow knight was one I normally wouldn't download because of the file size but it was on sale and I heard so many great things about so I took the plunge. It's not a bad game but I'm definitely not as into it as others. Still haven't beaten it though.
@nintendobynature
Hollow knight was/is my game if the year for the switch so far. I 108% it loved loved loved it. This may change when Pokémon let’s go comes out tho
@Mgene15 yea i hear you. There's alot of love for it from all around. Although i wouldn't buy it physically since i own it digitally, im sure it would sell like crazy
@Moroboshi876 Sad but true. It is the world of business. Even Nintendo isn't an exception when it comes to the bottom line.
@sword_9mm It's the business world. At least they are charging through the roof when the indie devs need or want to patch their games like what Sony and Microsoft do.
@BenAV I won't deny that other eshop only games can be cheaper but 55 AUD vs the usual 80 AUD of full priced retail games is quite a bit cheaper. Especially when the Switch version includes the Maxima DLC with the game instead of charging 22 AUD for that DLC separately like other consoles.
I personally think that's a great deal considering how much playtime the game can provide.
Edit: It also includes the Creature Pack DLC which cost an additional 22 AUD on PS4.
That's 44 AUD worth of DLC included in the game's base price of 55 AUD. So essentially the base game is being sold to you at around 11 AUD, you're just required to buy the DLC.
The value/cost of the game is all relative depending on how you look at it. But overall it's a sweet price in my opinion.
@Valdney this is a crazy attitude, first of all do you really think somebody is ever going to take a digital game away from you somehow? And second, you're literally missing out on some of the greatest games ever made because of this stance. I sort of get where you're coming from but it doesn't seem worth it to me, and this is from someone who always buys physical when given an option.
Physical has a lot more risk attached to it for the developers, and with much smaller margins - I’m surprised any Indies look at going physical.
For me personally, I’ve only bought two physical games, and I wished I’d bought them digitally, as I can’t be bothered changing cartridges. How lazy!
Physical releases, along with game development, is a major risk. At least with digital releases, they don’t have to waste time worrying about unsold product. It’s a shame, but it’s an understandable hurdle. Props to them, regardless. They made a good game that people love to play. I’ve got it, myself, but have yet to spend enough time with it. Regardless, it’s nigh impossible not to note it’s own unique charm.
@Valdney I will only buy physical version too.
@Moroboshi876 completely agree,
Hollow night was one of the cases where it was a steal price wise. I would have double dipped to show my support for the teams work in bringing us a great game. Still not finished yet, but ill get there.
Punishingly hard at times, but has some real moments of magic i feel.
Does not hold your hand too much and is so hard in places that it reminds me when games were actually challenging.
We will see i guess.
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