Hollow Knight: Silksong has taken the gaming world by storm since its release just over a week ago. Despite the absence of an official mobile version, players are finding creative ways to bring the hit title to their Android phones—thanks to the latest innovations in Windows emulation. As reported by The Verge, GameSir’s GameHub version 5.0 has emerged as a breakthrough, allowing Android users to play Silksong using their Steam cloud saves, effectively picking up right where they left off on their PCs.
Silksong’s launch numbers are nothing short of staggering. According to The Verge, the game attracted five million players in just a few days, making it one of the hottest releases of the year. On September 4, its release date, over 7% of active Steam users dove into the world of Silksong, propelling it to the No. 3 spot on Steam’s charts—trailing only behind Helldivers II and Counter-Strike 2. The full rankings for the first week of September are due to be released on September 15, and the gaming community is eager to see if Silksong can climb even higher.
But for all its popularity, Silksong hasn’t officially landed on mobile devices. That hasn’t stopped a wave of enterprising fans and tech enthusiasts from finding workarounds. GameSir’s GameHub 5.0, in particular, has caught the attention of Android gamers. This app, developed by the Chinese mobile gamepad manufacturer, emulates Windows so efficiently that even demanding games like Silksong are playable on flagship phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S25.
The Verge notes two standout features in GameHub 5.0 that set it apart from earlier emulation solutions. First, it automatically configures itself with the necessary graphics drivers, translation layers, and other components when launching a game—eliminating the tedious manual setup required by competitors like Winlator and GameNative. Second, GameHub can download Steam savegames directly from a user’s PC. This means players can log into their Steam accounts, install Silksong, and continue their adventure on mobile—no fuss, no complicated transfers. “You can download this app, log into your Steam account, tap to install the game, tap to play the game, tap a couple more times to enable Steam cloud saves… and then you’re playing a Steam game on a phone!” The Verge reported.
However, there are some catches. As of September 11, 2025, GameHub does not yet support uploading savegames back to Steam PCs from the Android device. GameSir is actively working to resolve this, but for now, the flow is one-way: from PC to phone. This limitation means that while you can take your Silksong progress on the go, you’ll have to wait for an update before you can sync mobile progress back to your main device.
Performance-wise, Silksong is surprisingly robust on high-end Android phones—though not without caveats. On a Samsung Galaxy S25, the game runs at framerates between 50 and 120 frames per second at full widescreen native resolution, with support for HDR. The experience improves dramatically with the use of a USB-C gamepad equipped with an integrated cooler, such as the GameSir X3 Pro. With the cooler and fan attached, players have reported maintaining framerates over 100 fps even during intense in-game battles. “With the X3 Pro I was able to maintain framerates of over 100fps even in big fights, so long as I plugged the gamepad’s Peltier cooling plate and noisy fan into USB-C power,” The Verge’s reviewer explained, noting that phone coolers are no longer a gimmick for this kind of play.
Without adequate cooling, however, things can get dicey. Thermal throttling on the phone can cause performance to drop sharply, making the game feel nearly unplayable during demanding sequences. “When my phone is thermally throttling, moments where it hits 50 or 60fps don’t feel like 50fps or 60fps, they feel like the game is borderline unplayable,” The Verge cautioned. The experience is even more challenging on older devices. For instance, when tested on a Pixel 9 with a Tensor G4 chip, Silksong barely managed to run smoothly, and cutscenes failed to play—a dealbreaker for many players. Larger phones or those designed specifically for gaming, as well as dedicated Android handhelds, are likely to fare better.
The Android emulation community hasn’t stopped at GameHub. Some users have turned to the Nintendo Switch emulator Eden, which reportedly delivers Silksong at a stable 120 fps without the need for additional cooling. But this approach comes with its own hurdles: it requires access to a Switch version of the game and presents challenges with save transfers. In contrast, GameHub’s strength lies in its ability to download legitimately purchased games and saves directly from Steam, providing a more straightforward—and legal—solution.
Despite these technological leaps, it’s worth noting that GameHub 5.0 is not without its growing pains. According to The Verge, while many are enthusiastic about the improvements, some users have complained that the latest update broke games that previously worked fine. As a result, some in the community are choosing to wait for further updates before fully committing to the platform. “It could be worth waiting for the dust to settle,” The Verge suggested.
Meanwhile, the hunger for a true mobile version of Silksong remains strong. A group that previously ported the original Hollow Knight to Android is already at work on an unofficial Android port of Silksong, with hopes to have it ready within a month from September 12, 2025. This effort could open up the game to an even broader audience of mobile gamers, assuming it meets fans’ expectations for performance and stability.
All of this activity underscores just how popular Silksong has become in such a short time. Its ability to draw five million players almost immediately, despite not being available on every platform, speaks volumes about the game’s appeal. The fact that over 7% of active Steam users played Silksong on launch day is a testament to its pull—especially when you consider the heavy competition from other top titles.
The landscape of PC gaming on mobile devices is clearly shifting. As emulation technology matures and devices become more powerful, the line between traditional PC and mobile gaming continues to blur. Silksong’s success on Android via emulation is just the latest example—and it may be a sign of even bigger changes to come for how and where we play our favorite games.
As the gaming world waits for Steam’s full rankings and the arrival of an official mobile port, one thing is clear: Hollow Knight: Silksong is setting new standards for cross-platform play, and fans are finding ways to enjoy it wherever they can.
