Hollow knight's decade-old glitch finally squashed in surprise update
Nine years. That’s how long players have endured a particularly frustrating bug in Hollow Knight, a glitch that rendered the final boss fight against the Radiance almost unfairly punishing. In a move that has sent ripples of gratitude through the indie game community, Team Cherry has finally addressed the issue with a surprise update, version 1.5.12620.
A long-overdue fix for a tricky encounter
The Radiance, arguably the most demanding test of skill in Hollow Knight, has long been plagued by a hitbox anomaly related to its light orbs. These projectiles, designed to chase the Knight and inflict damage, would retain their collision area even after disappearing – essentially creating invisible strikes that led to countless, and often bewildering, deaths. The frustration wasn’t just about the difficulty; it was the sheer unfairness of being hit by something you couldn’t see.
The update’s notes, quickly dissected and shared across platforms like Reddit, confirm the fix. “The Radiance’s orb hitbox now correctly despawns when the orb disappears,” reads the succinct explanation. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with players expressing disbelief and relief. “I can’t believe they fixed the Radiance orb glitch after all this time,” commented one user, perfectly encapsulating the sentiment.
But what's truly remarkable isn't just the fix itself, but when it arrived. Team Cherry’s focus is now firmly on Silksong, their highly anticipated sequel. While minor tweaks and balancing adjustments are standard, dedicating resources to resolve a bug from a game nearly a decade old feels… unexpected. The team is, in fact, already deep into development on Silksong's first DLC, Sea of Sorrow, slated for release sometime in 2026 as a free expansion—a commitment to the Silksong experience that mirrors Hollow Knight’s own post-launch support.
What does this mean for the future? While the gesture might seem small, it speaks volumes about Team Cherry’s dedication to its fanbase. It's a quiet acknowledgment of the importance of polishing even the most beloved of their creations, a testament to the enduring legacy of Hollow Knight, and a potential signal of their commitment to supporting Silksong long after its initial release. The Radiance may have finally been vanquished, but the positive impact of this unexpected patch will linger far longer.