Look at what Xbox Game Pass did just there-the thing. You know-the thing where they release not one but TWO huge games on the same day, driving the entire Internet into a collective meltdown. The official Xbox Game Pass account basically exploded with excitement in a tweet, captioned “IT’S A GREAT DAY” along with some glorious promotional art for the much-anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong and another game called Cataclismo. And, well…space went haywire in the replies, just as expected!
Let’s do a fast pass for anyone who missed the hype train. The sequel to the critically acclaimed Hollow Knight, Hollow Knight: Silksong, is one of those mythical “is it ever actually coming out” sort of games that some players have literally been waiting for for years. And then Cataclismo is presumably a fairly recent one that has joined the Game Pass lineup. Two games; one day; for Game Pass. That’s news, really. It’s kind of big.
What did the community say? All kinds of reactions emerged-those of pure joy and of utter confusion and downright hatred toward some. You just can’t please everyone on the internet. One user named SDF River gifted Xbox Game Pass a “birthday present,” to which the official account replied in earnest, “happy birthday. hope it’s a perfect one 💚”. It’s actually quite wholesome.
Not everybody’s arms were opened to this offer. Negative reactions came from some: Zac Guzman wrote, “Two more trash games”, to which Empirex responded with “Trash ass games lmao.” Harsh. More nuanced were the critics that mattered: ThicBeast goes with some honesty and admits, “That silksong game looks like boring hot trash won’t lie. I don’t get the hype. I’ll have to try it”. Well, at least they’re willing to give it a try. That’s more than most trolls would do.
The other thing is, Cataclismo also got some sideways reactions because Bulzeeb joked, “Cataclismo: Hello, I’m here too… Hey?” as though the hype for Silksong would just overshadow any attention Cataclismo might receive. The joke needs to be taken seriously since Silksong has been anticipated so long that it stands as a cultural landmark now. But hey, Cataclismo is there too! And maybe don’t ignore it.
And, of course, every sizable Game Pass drop inevitably spawns calls for even more discounts. “Make GamePass $1 monthly,” pleaded littleflippy98, while YandereSolar demanded, “Make GamePass yearly.” The demands never cease, though can you blame them? GamePass is already such an incredible value that the addition of two huge games only makes it better.
Some of the other replies are pure hype, starting with AIM Dopeness, who declared: “We out here Silking and Songing!” And what a blissful state it truly is. Tempest525 then said “Silksong is the real Cataclysm.” Big ups, I gotta say. Hype is there for good causes. Silksong has been made forever. The fact that it is out-and on Game Pass to boot-is a massive moment for a ton of gamers now.
Then an international sparkle with GIGACHAVEZ announcing, “No puedo jugar en la nube” (“I can’t play on the cloud”). So, there might even be people facing technical issues amidst this celebration. But more celebration for sure.
So, what does it mean? For one, it’s good advertising for Xbox Game Pass continuing on as the biggest gaming subscription in the market. The ability to drop two high-profile games on the same day is, plain an understatement. It’s the opposite of traditional marketing, pretty much erecting a status symbol of exclusivity. Microsoft seems to be pretty serious about its commitment to keeping their players entertained with fresh content and throws in the same level of value.
Now, for first-game amateurs, think of Hollow Knight as the defining metroidvania that boasts tight controls, gorgeous art, and a richly compelling world. Silksong promises to build on that in every way, whisking players off to a new kingdom with new abilities to master and new challenges to conquer. Whaaaaat about Cataclysm? Eh, less is known about that one, which is reason enough to keep those interested!
And if that weren’t enough to get the gaming community buzzing, the drop also happens to come at an interesting time. Summer is in full swing, and it’s perfect that new games are out to distract you during lazy days when you’d rather stay inside than be out in the heat.
What we got here are problems every gamer would have- a wall of hype, wall to criticism, wall to confusion, and, of course, a wall of pure unadulterated joy. But what is certain is that Xbox Game Pass in turn has really done something special for the subscribers. Whether that’s Silksong, Cataclismo, or just the value, you definitely cannot argue with a great day for gamers. Now, excuse me silking and songing my way through the evening, or maybe check out Cataclismo. Decisions, decisions.
