Hollow Knight arrives in Fortnite, and its bundle costs more than Team Cherry's games

The Fortnite x Hollow Knight collab, one of the most anticipated by the metroidvania community, is now live as part of the Halloween update for Epic Games' battle royale. The Knight, protagonist of Team Cherry's first game, has landed on the island, though not as a regular skin: it arrives as a sidekick that follows you around during matches. So far, nothing but good news for everyone who has spent years asking to see the bugs of Hallownest in other universes.

The problem, as reported by Vandal, is the price tag. Getting every item in the collab costs 2,000 V-Bucks, which works out to €22.99 if you have no currency saved up. That's more than buying Hollow Knight and its sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, combined. And for a community that loves Team Cherry precisely for delivering huge games at modest prices, it has landed like a stinger right in the back.

What you need to know

• The Hollow Knight collab with Fortnite is now available as part of the Halloween event.
• The Knight isn't a skin but a sidekick that accompanies you in matches.
• The full bundle includes three cosmetic items and costs 2,000 V-Bucks (€22.99 if you have no V-Bucks).
• The items are also sold separately: the Knight Sidekick costs 1,500 V-Bucks and the Hallownest Grub Back Bling costs 400 V-Bucks.
• The total price is higher than both of Team Cherry's games combined.

What's in the bundle and why it stings

The bundle is made up of three cosmetics that you can buy together or individually. These are the prices listed by the source:

The two items whose prices we know already add up to 1,900 V-Bucks, so the bundle works as the classic item shop hook: buying individually barely makes sense. The centrepiece, the Knight sidekick, takes up most of the budget on its own. In other words, anyone who comes in for the iconic character ends up paying close to the full price.

The comparison with the original games is neither random nor exaggerated: it's exactly the point the community has raised. Hollow Knight offers dozens of hours of exploration, memorable bosses and a cult-classic soundtrack; Silksong, its sequel, arrived after a wait so long it became almost a meme. When a cosmetic companion costs more than both complete experiences, it says a lot about how the perceived value of digital content has changed.

Who it affects

For the casual player who just wants the Knight tagging along in matches, the hit is direct. For the Team Cherry fan who has never touched Fortnite, the message is even stranger: for less money, they could play the very games that inspired the collab. And content creators, who often feel obliged to showcase every new item shop release, now have to decide whether to pay up or turn the controversy into a video topic.

Our take

Here at Underworld Lordz we won't pretend to be surprised: Fortnite has spent years proving that its business model works, and collabs with beloved franchises are its most profitable weapon. Nobody is forced to buy, and cosmetics give no competitive advantage, something we appreciate as an esports team. But being optional doesn't make something immune to criticism. When a decorative sidekick costs more than two of the best metroidvanias of the last decade, the imbalance is obvious.

There's also a cultural clash at play. Hollow Knight is almost a symbol of the indie scene: small studio, massive game, fair price. Monetising that image with a bundle this pricey borders on irony. We have no doubt it will sell, because the nostalgia and affection for the Knight are huge, but Epic could have gone for a more symbolic price or, at the very least, a more affordable entry-level item.

For creators, our advice is clear: if you're going to cover the collab, be transparent with your audience, especially if it's a young one. And if you're a Team Cherry fan who still hasn't played their games, the best investment is still outside the Fortnite item shop.

What do you think?

Some argue that everyone can spend their money however they like, while others believe these prices undermine what Hollow Knight stands for. We've shared our view, now it's your turn. Would you pay 2,000 V-Bucks to have the Knight by your side in Fortnite, or would you rather spend that money on Team Cherry's games? Let us know in the team chat or on our Discord.