Team Cherry quietly rolled out native next‑gen versions of Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition this week, bringing the indie classic to Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S — and most existing owners get the upgrades for free.
This isn’t just a resolution bump. The developer says the new builds deliver higher frame‑rates, higher resolutions and “additional effects,” and a simultaneous patch across platforms folds in a handful of under‑the‑hood improvements carried over from Silksong.
What changed (and why you might care)
If you already own the game on PS4, Xbox One or the original Switch, Team Cherry says you can claim the current‑gen upgrade at no extra cost. There’s a caveat for some PlayStation players: copies obtained from PS Plus’ Game Catalogue may not automatically qualify for the PS5 upgrade, and the studio is reportedly talking to Sony to resolve the issue. The developer published the announcement and linked patch notes on its blog and Steam, where the full changelog lives.
On Switch 2, the upgrade can be more noticeable: docked it supports 4K and up to 120fps on compatible displays, while handheld has been boosted to 1080p with an optional 120fps mode. That combination — crisper visuals plus higher frame‑rates and reduced input lag — is what convinced early hands‑on players to dip back into Hallownest. Faster framerates don’t transform the game, but they tighten the controls and make precise moments (pogos, parries, tiny dodges) feel sharper.
Visually, Team Cherry added lighting and color tweaks. Environments like Crystal Peak, Greenpath and the Crossroads benefit from richer hues, a new dithering effect on PC reduces banding, and select visual effects were refined so the original now sits more comfortably beside Silksong.
PC players also get native 21:9 and 16:10 aspect support (handy for ultrawide and handheld resolutions), plus smoother map panning, inventory pause fixes and several controller and collision tweaks that clean up rough edges. For Steam Deck owners specifically, the 16:10 support means the Deck’s 1280×800 panel no longer shows black bars — a small but welcome fix for handheld play.
Platform notes, trophies and fixes
- PS5: A native PS5 port has appeared and it includes its own trophy set (Platinum included). Team Cherry and outlets have noted that a previous exploit that allowed an easy Platinum has been fixed, and trophies won’t automatically pop on PS5 simply because you have the PS4 save — you’ll need to play through the list as intended.
- Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2: Both platforms benefit from the same visual and performance polish; Switch 2 owners on earlier Switch saves should be able to upgrade for free like other platform owners.
- Cross‑platform refinements: The update integrates a number of small mechanical fixes — for example, Salubra’s Blessing properly deactivates at max Soul, Sly’s Great Slash collider aligns better with its animation, and the inventory now pauses the game as expected.
If you want the full technical breakdown, Team Cherry’s announcement links to the official Steam patch notes with the entire changelog: Team Cherry announcement.
Why this matters now
Hollow Knight’s revival on modern hardware arrives at a moment when newer consoles and handhelds (and games such as Silksong) are drawing players back in. Nintendo’s new platform momentum makes a Switch 2 edition particularly timely — the hardware’s sales and software lineup have been a selling point for players deciding where to replay classics or try indies again (see how Switch 2 momentum has been shaping forecasts) [/news/nintendo-switch-2-sales-surge].
Meanwhile, the ongoing polish to handheld and ultrawide support reflects a broader trend: developers are tuning older hits to feel native on newer screens and control surfaces rather than shoehorning them into legacy assumptions. If you play on a Steam Deck, you’ll appreciate that the 16:10 fix joins other Deck‑targeted quality improvements and system features that continue to make handheld PC gaming smoother [/news/steam-deck-display-off-downloads].
Should you reinstall?
If you loved Hollow Knight the first time around, the answer is probably yes. The upgrades aren’t a reinvention — they’re a refinement. Higher framerates and clearer visuals make the combat feel a bit more immediate, small bug fixes remove annoyances, and players who haven’t yet moved to modern hardware now have a clean reason to pick it up. For newcomers, the full Voidheart Edition (with all expansions bundled) remains excellent value.
If you’re shopping for a new console to experience the upgrade on, many readers are comparing PlayStation and Switch hardware; the upgraded PS5 build will run natively on current PlayStation hardware. If you’re considering a hardware purchase around this generation, the PlayStation 5 Pro Console is one option some buyers look at for a higher‑end experience: PlayStation 5 Pro Console.
Team Cherry’s refreshes are a reminder that big indie stories don’t always stop after launch. Sometimes a few thoughtful tweaks and responsible cross‑gen support are enough to bring a game back into the conversation — and make an old favourite feel new again.