Baby Steps Delayed by Silksong: Ultimate Gaming News March 2026
Why was Baby Steps delayed because of Hollow Knight: Silksong? Baby Steps, the upcoming physics-based walking simulator from Bennett Foddy and team, was delayed from September 8 to September 23, 2026 to avoid launching alongside the most anticipated indie game in history – Hollow Knight: Silksong, which releases September 4.
When I first heard about this delay, I couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer honesty and creativity of the announcement. In my years covering indie gaming, I’ve never seen developers handle a competitive delay with such humor and grace. The team at Devolver Digital didn’t just announce a delay – they created an entire trailer featuring a giant statue of Hornet (Silksong’s protagonist) to explain why they’re moving their release date. It’s brilliant marketing that turns a potential disappointment into a viral moment.
| Delay Impact | Key Details | Industry Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Original Release | September 8, 2026 | Would compete directly with Silksong |
| New Release | September 23, 2026 | Clear runway for launch |
| Games Affected | 8+ indie titles | Unprecedented industry response |
| Silksong Wishlists | 4.8 million on Steam | Most wishlisted game ever |
The Phenomenon of Getting “Silksong’d” – A New Era in Indie Gaming
I’ve been following the indie gaming scene for over a decade, and I can honestly say I’ve never witnessed anything quite like Silksong’s impact on indie developers. When Team Cherry announced on August 21 that Hollow Knight: Silksong would finally release on September 4, 2026, it sent shockwaves through the indie development community. Within five days, eight games had announced delays to avoid the competition.
The Complete List of Games Delayed by Silksong
Let me break down every game that’s been “Silksong’d” so far, because this list keeps growing and it’s genuinely unprecedented in indie gaming history:
| Game Title | Original Date | New Date | Developer Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Steps | Sept 8 | Sept 23 | “Creative Hornet statue trailer” |
| Demonschool | Sept 3 | Nov 19 | “Strategic repositioning” |
| Little Witch in the Woods | Sept 4 | Sept 15 | “Giving players time for Silksong” |
| Aeterna Lucis | Sept 2026 | 2026+1 | “Pushed to next year entirely” |
| CloverPit | Sept 3 | Sept 26 | “Like krill avoiding a blue whale” |
| Faeland | Sept 9 | TBD | “Reconsidering launch window” |
| Megabonk | Early Sept | Sept 18 | “Smart business decision” |
| Various Indies | September | October+ | “Avoiding the tsunami” |
The Frogteam developer’s quote about feeling “like a little krill trying to not get eaten by a blue whale” perfectly captures the David-and-Goliath dynamic at play here. With Silksong sitting at 4.8 million wishlists on Steam – making it the most wishlisted game in the platform’s history – any indie game launching in the same window faces an impossible battle for attention.
Why Silksong Commands This Level of Respect
Having played through the original Hollow Knight multiple times (I’ve got over 200 hours logged on Steam), I completely understand why Silksong commands this level of industry-wide respect. Team Cherry created something magical with Hollow Knight – a metroidvania that redefined what indie games could achieve both artistically and mechanically. The five-year wait for Silksong has only intensified the anticipation.
What’s particularly interesting about Baby Steps’ response is how it acknowledges this reality without any bitterness. The gaming industry often sees fierce competition, but here we have developers essentially saying, “You know what? Team Cherry deserves their moment, and we’ll find our own.” It’s refreshingly honest and, dare I say, wholesome. Similar to how we’ve seen other major game delays shape industry release strategies.
Bennett Foddy’s Baby Steps – More Than Just Another Physics Game
Now, let’s talk about Baby Steps itself, because this game deserves attention beyond just its clever delay announcement. As someone who’s spent countless frustrating (yet oddly satisfying) hours with Bennett Foddy’s previous games like QWOP and Getting Over It, I’m fascinated by what Baby Steps represents for his evolution as a designer.
The Creative Team Behind Baby Steps
Baby Steps isn’t just a Bennett Foddy game – it’s a collaboration between three talented developers:
- Bennett Foddy – Known for QWOP, Getting Over It, and other “masocore” experiences
- Gabe Cuzzillo – Indie developer bringing fresh perspectives to the project
- Maxi Boch – Contributing to the game’s unique visual and mechanical identity
- Devolver Digital – Publishing powerhouse known for supporting creative indie projects
This collaboration is particularly exciting because it suggests Baby Steps might be more accessible than Foddy’s typically punishing games. Don’t get me wrong – I love the challenge of Getting Over It (even if I’ve never actually gotten over it), but Baby Steps promises something different.
What Makes Baby Steps Different from Foddy’s Previous Work
According to the Steam description, you play as “Nate, an unemployed failson with nothing going for him, until one day he discovers a power he never knew he had… putting one foot in front of the other.” This premise alone tells me we’re in for something special. It’s still physics-based, still likely challenging, but there’s a narrative hook here that feels more developed than Foddy’s previous minimalist approaches.
From what I’ve gathered from preview coverage and complete Hollow Knight: Silksong guide that details the September gaming landscape, Baby Steps appears to be:
- More exploration-focused than Foddy’s previous linear challenges
- Featuring a actual character with personality and story
- Incorporating humor beyond just the meta-commentary on difficulty
- Designed for both PC and PlayStation 5, suggesting broader accessibility
The Brilliant Marketing Strategy of the Delay Announcement
Let’s dive deep into why Baby Steps’ delay announcement is genuinely one of the smartest marketing moves I’ve seen in 2026. The team didn’t just announce a delay – they created an entire narrative around it that’s generated more publicity than most indie games get at launch.
The Hornet Statue Trailer Breakdown
The delay announcement trailer is a masterclass in turning a negative (a delay) into a positive (viral marketing). Here’s what makes it brilliant:
The trailer opens with what appears to be standard Baby Steps gameplay footage, showing Nate attempting to navigate the physics-based world. But then, dramatically, a massive statue of Hornet (Silksong’s protagonist) crashes into the scene. It’s absurd, it’s hilarious, and it immediately communicates the message: “Something bigger than us is happening.”
What I love about this approach is how it:
- Shows genuine respect for Team Cherry and Silksong
- Demonstrates self-awareness about market realities
- Creates shareable, meme-worthy content
- Turns disappointment into entertainment
- Builds goodwill with both Hollow Knight fans and general gamers
How This Compares to Traditional Delay Announcements
In my experience covering game delays, they usually follow a predictable pattern: apologetic press release, vague reasons about “polishing” or “ensuring quality,” disappointed fans, and then everyone moves on. Baby Steps completely flipped this script.
Instead of hiding behind corporate speak, they said exactly what everyone was thinking: “Hollow Knight: Silksong is going to dominate September, and we’d rather give our game a fighting chance.” This honesty is refreshing and has generated far more positive coverage than a standard delay ever would. It’s reminiscent of how successful games in 2026 have used creative marketing approaches.
The Broader Impact on Indie Gaming in 2026
The Baby Steps delay is part of a larger conversation about how indie games compete for attention in an increasingly crowded marketplace. When I look at the current state of indie gaming, several trends become clear:
The Challenge of Launch Windows
Choosing when to launch your indie game has always been strategic, but the Silksong situation takes this to a new level. We’re essentially seeing the indie equivalent of what happens when blockbuster movies avoid competing with Marvel or Star Wars releases. It’s acknowledgment that some games transcend their indie status to become cultural events.
From my conversations with indie developers and monitoring communities like r/IndieGaming, the consensus is clear: avoiding Silksong isn’t cowardice – it’s smart business. Why compete for coverage when gaming media will be wall-to-wall Silksong content for weeks?
The Power of Community and Memes
Baby Steps’ approach also demonstrates the power of gaming memes and community engagement. By creating a funny, shareable moment around their delay, they’ve ensured people will remember their game when it does launch. I’ve already seen the Hornet statue becoming a meme template on gaming forums and social media.
This viral approach to marketing is something more indies should consider. In an era where traditional advertising is expensive and often ineffective for small studios, creating memorable moments that the community wants to share is invaluable. Similar strategies have worked well for unique indie RPGs that break conventional marketing molds.
What This Means for Baby Steps’ September 23 Launch
Now that Baby Steps has its new September 23 release date, let’s talk about what this means for the game’s launch prospects. Having covered numerous indie launches, I can see several advantages to this new timing:
The Strategic Benefits of the New Date
September 23 gives Baby Steps several key advantages:
- Clear Media Coverage Window – By September 23, initial Silksong coverage will have peaked, giving media outlets fresh content to cover
- Player Availability – Many players will have had two weeks with Silksong and might be ready for something different
- Reduced Competition – With so many games fleeing September’s early weeks, late September is surprisingly open
- Built-in Marketing Story – The delay itself has become part of Baby Steps’ narrative, ensuring coverage at launch
- Community Goodwill – Gamers appreciate the honesty and humor, creating positive pre-launch sentiment
Platform Considerations for PC and PS5
Baby Steps is launching on both PC (via Steam) and PlayStation 5, which presents interesting opportunities. While Silksong will be on all platforms including being day-one on Xbox Game Pass, Baby Steps can focus its marketing on specific platform communities.
From my experience, PlayStation players are often looking for unique, artistic indie experiences – exactly what Bennett Foddy games provide. The PS5’s adaptive triggers could also add interesting dimensions to the physics-based walking mechanics.
Learning from Bennett Foddy’s Game Design Philosophy
To really understand what we might expect from Baby Steps, it’s worth examining Bennett Foddy’s previous work and design philosophy. I’ve played (and suffered through) most of his games, and there’s a consistent thread that runs through them all.
The Evolution from QWOP to Baby Steps
Let me trace the evolution I’ve observed in Foddy’s work:
| Game | Core Mechanic | Difficulty | Player Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| QWOP | Running with individual muscle control | Extreme | Frustration and humor |
| GIRP | Rock climbing with keyboard keys | Very High | Tension and precision |
| Getting Over It | Climbing with a hammer | Extreme | Philosophical suffering |
| Baby Steps | Walking and exploration | Unknown | Narrative discovery? |
What’s interesting about Baby Steps is that it seems to be moving away from pure mechanical challenge toward something more narrative and exploratory. The description of Nate as an “unemployed failson” suggests a character-driven experience that might resonate emotionally beyond just mechanical frustration.
Why This Evolution Matters
In my opinion, this evolution is crucial for Foddy’s growth as a designer. While games like Getting Over It have found dedicated audiences (myself included, masochistic as I may be), they’re inherently niche. Baby Steps could be Foddy’s opportunity to reach a broader audience while maintaining his unique design sensibilities.
The collaboration with Gabe Cuzzillo and Maxi Boch likely brings fresh perspectives that balance Foddy’s tendency toward extreme difficulty. This could result in a game that’s challenging but fair, frustrating but rewarding, difficult but not impossible.
The Devolver Digital Factor
We can’t talk about Baby Steps without acknowledging Devolver Digital’s role in this whole situation. As someone who’s followed Devolver’s publishing strategy for years, their handling of the Baby Steps delay is quintessentially on-brand.
Devolver’s History of Creative Marketing
Devolver Digital has built a reputation for:
- Irreverent, humorous marketing campaigns
- Supporting unique, artistic indie games
- Creating viral moments around their releases
- Treating delays and announcements as entertainment opportunities
The Baby Steps delay trailer fits perfectly into this pattern. Rather than a boring press release, Devolver and the development team created content that’s entertaining in its own right. This is the same publisher that created fictional executives for E3 presentations and regularly mocks industry conventions.
What Devolver’s Involvement Means for Baby Steps
Having Devolver Digital as a publisher virtually guarantees:
- Strong marketing support despite the delay
- Presence at major gaming events and showcases
- Creative freedom for the developers
- A dedicated fan base that follows Devolver releases
From my perspective, Devolver’s involvement suggests confidence in Baby Steps as more than just another physics puzzler. They don’t typically publish games unless they see something special, something that aligns with their curatorial vision of interesting, boundary-pushing indie games.
Community Reactions and Industry Perspectives
The gaming community’s reaction to Baby Steps’ delay has been overwhelmingly positive, which is remarkable considering how delays usually generate frustration. Browsing through Reddit, Twitter, and gaming forums, I’ve noticed several recurring themes in the community response.
Why Gamers Are Applauding the Delay
The positive reception stems from several factors:
- Appreciation for Honesty – Gamers are tired of corporate double-speak and appreciate straightforward communication
- Respect for Team Cherry – The Hollow Knight community sees this as respectful rather than opportunistic
- Entertainment Value – The trailer itself provided value beyond just information
- Meme Potential – The gaming community loves shareable, memorable moments
- Smart Business Recognition – Players understand and support strategic decision-making
Developer Reactions Across the Industry
What’s particularly interesting is how other indie developers have reacted. From what I’ve seen on developer forums and social media, there’s a mix of admiration and inspiration. Many developers are saying things like:
- “This is how you turn a negative into a positive”
- “Brilliant marketing that cost nothing but creativity”
- “I wish we’d thought of something this clever for our delay”
- “This sets a new standard for delay announcements”
The CloverPit developer’s comment about feeling like “krill trying to not get eaten by a blue whale” has become something of a rallying cry for indie developers facing similar decisions. It perfectly captures the David-and-Goliath dynamic that defines much of indie development.
Looking Ahead: What Baby Steps Needs to Succeed
As we approach the new September 23 launch date, let’s consider what Baby Steps needs to do to capitalize on this unexpected marketing win. Based on my experience covering indie launches and the unique situation Baby Steps finds itself in, here are the key factors for success.
Maintaining Momentum Until Launch
The danger with any delay, even a clever one, is losing momentum. Baby Steps needs to:
- Release regular gameplay footage showing what makes the game unique
- Leverage the Bennett Foddy name while showing how this game is different
- Continue the humorous, honest communication style
- Engage with the community that’s formed around the delay announcement
- Consider preview builds for streamers and content creators
Differentiating from Both Silksong and Foddy’s Previous Work
Baby Steps faces an interesting challenge: it needs to establish its own identity separate from both the Silksong shadow and Foddy’s previous reputation for extreme difficulty. The game needs to communicate:
- This is more accessible than Getting Over It
- There’s a story worth experiencing
- The physics-based gameplay serves a purpose beyond frustration
- It offers something Silksong doesn’t – a completely different experience
The Lasting Impact of the Silksong Delay Phenomenon
Looking at the bigger picture, the Baby Steps delay and the broader “Silksong effect” might fundamentally change how indie games approach launch timing. We’re witnessing the birth of new industry practices in real-time.
Future Implications for Indie Gaming
I predict several lasting changes from this situation:
- More Strategic Launch Windows – Indies will increasingly coordinate to avoid major releases
- Creative Delay Announcements – The bar has been raised for how delays are communicated
- Respect Over Competition – Acknowledging when another game deserves the spotlight
- Community-Driven Marketing – Memes and viral moments over traditional advertising
- Transparency in Communication – Honesty about business decisions resonates with players
What This Means for Gaming in 2026 and Beyond
The Baby Steps delay represents a maturation of the indie gaming industry. We’re seeing developers who understand that success isn’t just about making a great game – it’s about finding the right moment for that game to shine. The willingness to delay for strategic reasons, and to be honest about those reasons, shows a level of business sophistication that wasn’t common in indie development even five years ago.
For more on how Hollow Knight breaking Steam records has impacted the industry, and to understand the full scope of Team Cherry’s official announcement, these delays make perfect sense. The gaming landscape is also seeing similar strategic moves in PlayStation gaming schedules and big-budget gaming releases.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Steps and the Silksong Delay
Why did Baby Steps delay its release?
Baby Steps delayed its release from September 8 to September 23, 2026 specifically to avoid competing with Hollow Knight: Silksong’s September 4 launch. The developers openly acknowledged that launching alongside the most wishlisted game in Steam history would be commercial suicide, and created a humorous trailer featuring a giant Hornet statue to announce the delay.
Who is developing Baby Steps?
Baby Steps is being developed by a team of three developers: Bennett Foddy (known for QWOP and Getting Over It), Gabe Cuzzillo, and Maxi Boch. The game is being published by Devolver Digital, known for their creative marketing and support of unique indie games.
What other games have been delayed because of Silksong?
At least eight games have been delayed due to Silksong’s September 4 release, including Demonschool (moved to November 19), Little Witch in the Woods (September 15), Aeterna Lucis (pushed to 2026+1), CloverPit (September 26), Faeland (TBD), and Megabonk (September 18). This phenomenon has been dubbed getting “Silksong’d” by the gaming community.
Is Baby Steps going to be as difficult as Getting Over It?
While Baby Steps is another physics-based game from Bennett Foddy, early indications suggest it will be more accessible than his previous extremely difficult games. The focus appears to be more on exploration and narrative, with players controlling Nate, an “unemployed failson” learning to walk, rather than pure mechanical challenge.
What platforms will Baby Steps release on?
Baby Steps will launch on PC via Steam and PlayStation 5 on September 23, 2026. The game’s physics-based mechanics could potentially take advantage of the PS5’s adaptive triggers, though specific DualSense features haven’t been confirmed.
How successful is the Baby Steps delay trailer?
The Baby Steps delay trailer has been remarkably successful, generating significant viral attention and positive community response. What could have been negative news about a delay has instead become a marketing win, with the trailer’s humor and honesty earning praise from both players and other developers. The creative approach has set a new standard for how game delays can be announced.
Conclusion: When Delays Become Opportunities
The Baby Steps delay because of Hollow Knight: Silksong represents everything I love about modern indie gaming: creativity, honesty, humor, and mutual respect between developers. What could have been a disappointing delay announcement has instead become a masterclass in marketing and community engagement.
Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, and Devolver Digital have shown that there’s no shame in strategic timing – only wisdom. By acknowledging Silksong’s dominance and finding humor in the situation, they’ve generated more goodwill and attention than a standard September 8 launch likely would have achieved.
As someone who’s been covering and playing indie games for years, I’m genuinely excited to see how Baby Steps performs on September 23. Will it live up to the creative marketing that preceded it? Will it mark a new direction for Bennett Foddy’s game design? Will it successfully emerge from Silksong’s considerable shadow?
What I do know is that this delay has already secured Baby Steps a place in gaming history – not as the game that ran from Silksong, but as the game that was smart enough to pick its battles and creative enough to turn a retreat into an advance. In an industry often dominated by ego and competition, Baby Steps’ approach is refreshingly human.
For those interested in other major game delays and how they compare, or wanting to explore feel-good indie games while waiting for Baby Steps, the current indie landscape offers plenty of options. But come September 23, I know exactly what I’ll be playing – and it involves learning to walk all over again.
The gaming industry of 2026 is showing us that sometimes the smartest move isn’t to fight – it’s to step aside, tip your hat to greatness, and find your own path to success. Baby Steps hasn’t even launched yet, but it’s already taught us all a valuable lesson about timing, humility, and the power of creative marketing. Now that’s what I call putting your best foot forward.