The Most Anticipated Indie Sequel in Gaming

In the landscape of gaming anticipation, few titles carry the weight of Hollow Knight: Silksong. The original Hollow Knight — released in 2017 by the tiny Australian studio Team Cherry — became a landmark of the metroidvania genre and a defining indie success story. Its sequel, Silksong, was announced in February 2019 and has since become something of a community legend: endlessly anticipated, periodically confirmed, and stubbornly unreleased.

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of everything officially confirmed about the game.

What Is Silksong?

Silksong began as a planned DLC expansion for Hollow Knight centered on Hornet, a secondary character from the original game. The scope grew so significantly that Team Cherry announced it as a full standalone sequel. Hornet is the sole playable character — a significant departure from the original's Silent Knight protagonist.

Confirmed Details

The Protagonist: Hornet

Hornet is described as faster, more aggressive, and more acrobatic than the Knight from the first game. Her moveset is built around a needle-and-thread combat style, with swift strikes and the ability to craft tools and traps using silk. Team Cherry has emphasized that her move set has been designed to feel distinct rather than derivative of the original.

A New World: Pharloom

Silksong takes place in an entirely new kingdom called Pharloom, described as a land high in the clouds, populated by insects and built around mysterious religious rituals. Hornet begins the game as a captive and must fight upward through the kingdom toward a looming citadel at its peak. The vertical orientation of the world is a deliberate design shift from the descending structure of the original game.

New Enemies and Bosses

Trailers have confirmed a wide array of new enemy types and bosses. Team Cherry stated that Silksong will feature more boss encounters than the original Hollow Knight — which itself was already celebrated for its boss design. The visual palette is brighter and more varied than the oppressive darkness of Hallownest.

Crafting System

A new crafting mechanic allows Hornet to gather materials from the environment and enemies to craft tools used in exploration and combat. This adds a resource management layer not present in the original game.

Platform Availability

Silksong has been confirmed for PC (Steam and GOG), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. It was also confirmed to be a Day One Xbox Game Pass title at launch.

What We Don't Know

Team Cherry has maintained an unusually strict communication blackout on Silksong for extended periods, declining to announce a release date, provide development updates, or respond to speculation. The studio has explained this as a deliberate choice to show the game only when they're satisfied with it.

  • No confirmed release date or release window
  • No confirmed price point
  • No information on story connections to the original game's ending
  • No details on the Charms equivalent system (if any)

Why the Community Cares So Much

The original Hollow Knight is widely regarded as one of the best games of its generation. Its world-building, combat, exploration, and atmosphere set a standard that few games in any genre have matched. For fans, Silksong represents not just a sequel but a test of whether lightning can strike twice. The wait — however long it extends — is fueled by genuine love for what came before.

When Will It Release?

As of this writing, no release date has been announced. The wisest expectation is to assume Team Cherry will release it when they believe it's ready and not before. Given the quality of their previous work, that patience is likely to be rewarded.