Hollow Knight: Silksong's $20 Price Tag Creates Unfair Benchmark for Indie Developers
Steam pricing analyst Cassia Curran criticized Team Cherry for pricing Hollow Knight: Silksong at $20, arguing the low cost creates unsustainable downward pressure on the indie market. Despite a seven-year development cycle and high production values, the game raised the bar for what consumers expect at that price point, making it difficult for other studios to justify higher prices. This trend, combined with an influx of AI-generated 'slop' games, is forcing developers to abandon open playtests and free demos to protect their intellectual property.