Hollow Knight has received its first major update since 2022, and for players with ultrawide monitors or Steam Deck, the changes are especially welcome. Released on February 5—just weeks before the game’s ninth anniversary—this patch delivers long-requested aspect ratio support, controller refinements, and a handful of quality-of-life tweaks that finally bring the original’s presentation up to modern standards.
The most notable additions are native support for 21:9 and 16:10 resolutions, resolving a persistent frustration for ultrawide users who previously relied on community mods. The 16:10 fix, in particular, removes the black bars that plagued Steam Deck players, ensuring the game’s hand-drawn aesthetic fills the screen without distortion. For those who prefer traditional widescreen or CRT-style setups, third-party mods continue to offer 4:3 compatibility, though Team Cherry hasn’t announced official support for those ratios.
Beyond display tweaks, the update introduces smoother map navigation, fixes a critical softlock in the City of Tears Grub room, and refines character mechanics—such as reducing Grey Prince Zote’s stagger bounce height and adjusting Salubra’s Blessing to deactivate after max Soul. Controller users will appreciate the switch to Unity’s Input System, which improves compatibility while retaining the option to revert to the legacy system via advanced settings.
Performance improvements and minor bug fixes round out the patch, though the focus remains on accessibility. The update arrives as Silksong, the highly anticipated sequel, prepares for its own expansion, Sea of Sorrow, later this year. While Silksong may have missed major industry awards, its Steam Awards win underscores the enduring appeal of Team Cherry’s meticulous world-building—a legacy now extended to its predecessor’s player base.
For those who’ve been waiting, the update is a straightforward download via Steam or the official Hollow Knight launcher. No additional steps are required beyond installing the patch, though Steam Deck users may need to restart the game to see the 16:10 changes take effect.
