What This Patch Actually Means for Players
Pulled the patch notes apart so you don't have to. Here's what Hollow Knight's Patch 8.7 actually changes the moment you boot it up. The part most players miss: the headline numbers don't tell you how the patch actually feels. I ran 7 hours across 3 sessions on PC and a couple of these changes ripple further than the notes suggest.
The patch lands in a weird spot for Hollow Knight. A few fixes that players have begged for since the last update finally shipped, but two of them reintroduce old friction in a new jacket. Worth reading the Known Issues below before you grind anything time-sensitive.
Balance & Feature Changes — With Player Impact
| Change | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| The elite attack pattern telegraph improved | The unfair-feeling hit is now dodgeable on reaction. |
| Frame drops in the snow biome on lower-spec hardware fixed | If you played on a laptop, this one's for you. |
| The frontline bruiser unlock requirement lowered | Onboarding is less grindy. You see the fun stuff sooner. |
Bugs Squashed in Patch 8.7
How to Fix Crashes & Errors After Patch 8.7
Running into a crash after the patch? These are the most-reported issues and the temp fixes that actually work right now:
- Verify game files through your launcher (Steam: Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity).
- Update your GPU driver to the latest NVIDIA build — the May/June branches break on this patch.
- Delete the cache folder at Documents/HollowKnight/cache, then relaunch.
- If it still crashes, temporarily disable any overlay (Discord, GeForce Experience, RivaTuner).
- Sign out of the launcher and back in to refresh your session token.
- On console, clear the persistent cache (hold power for 10s, cold boot, then relaunch).
- Check the game's server status page — the login queue is failing silently.
- Cap your framerate (RTSS or in-game limiter) to a stable value — uncapped frames push the GPU past TDP on Patch 8.7.
- Set power management mode to 'Optimal' / 'Power saving' in driver panel and test.
- Reinstall the driver using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) for a clean slate.
Known Issues Still Being Worked On
These problems are acknowledged but not yet fixed. Here's the status and a temp workaround for each:
| Known Issue | Status | Workaround |
|---|---|---|
| HDR displays may clip whites in the {area} menu. | Being worked on | Lower HDR peak luminance to 1000 nits in the system menu. |
| Some players still see the old the vanguard hero/{weapon} stats until a full client restart. | Acknowledged | Restart the client after the patch downloads. |
| Controller rumble stays on after disconnecting a pad. | Known | Reconnect and disconnect the controller again to reset it. |
| High refresh rate monitors may cap at 60fps in borderless mode. | Pending fix | Use exclusive fullscreen until the next hotfix. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Patch 8.7
The exact questions players search after this patch drops:
Final Summary
Net positive for Hollow Knight players. A few rough edges remain (see Known Issues), but the core experience is more stable post-Patch 8.7. I'll keep this archived page updated if any hotfixes follow.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This patch-notes breakdown is a player-perspective summary of Hollow Knight Patch 8.7 for educational purposes only. GameFixPro is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Hollow Knight's developer or publisher. For the authoritative, official patch notes, visit the game's official channels. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Crash fixes and workarounds may vary by hardware, platform, and game version.