For those following the journey of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the wait has been nothing short of arduous. Since its announcement, the sequel to 2017’s acclaimed Hollow Knight has left fans eagerly anticipating its release, yet no official release date or new gameplay trailer has materialized. The development team, Team Cherry, a modest trio of talented creators, has maintained a tight lid on updates or insights, much to the chagrin of the fervent fanbase. This lack of communication has turned anticipation into frustration, fuelling endless speculation and even despair in the community.
The silence from Team Cherry had begun to take its toll, with many enthusiasts starting to lose faith in both the developers and the potential for Silksong’s timely release. The term “vaporware” started circulating within certain circles, drawing uncomfortable parallels to the elusive Beyond Good & Evil 2 from Ubisoft. However, a spark of hope ignited during the recent Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event. Nintendo teasing a few seconds of gameplay footage turned the tides of speculation, finally confirming a 2025 release date for Silksong. This revelation instantly set the online community abuzz, quickly becoming the standout announcement from the Direct.
Despite some semblance of clarity now, the game’s marketing journey has been shaky to say the least. If a mere glimpse can cause such excitement, it reflects how scattered and sparse the updates from Team Cherry have been. Backtracking to 2019, the fanfare for Silksong was substantial, with its initial announcement made on February 14—a date memorable to many as Valentine’s Day. That day saw the unveiling of a trailer alongside a detailed developer walkthrough on YouTube, drumming up quite the excitement among followers.
The remainder of 2019 was notably filled with Silksong buzz. Merely a month after the initial reveal, more details on characters were shared. Fast forward a couple of months to E3 2019, and Silksong was highlighted prominently, showcasing its opening scene and a boss battle. To round out the year, another update surfaced, complete with enemy reveals and a peek at the soundtrack.
Although 2019 was active, the flow of communication soon dwindled. For many months, fans were left in the dark until Team Cherry reemerged at a substantial gaming event years later. At the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2022, a second trailer was unveiled, confirming Silksong’s release on Xbox platforms and availability on Xbox Game Pass at launch. Hopes were initially set for a 2023 release, but alas, delays pushed that timeline back indefinitely.
As 2023 rolled around with scant updates apart from platform expansion announcements, the silence resumed. It wasn’t until May of that year that Team Cherry officially announced a delay, shattering hopes for a 2023 release. Now with renewed anticipation for its 2025 launch, the fanbase can breathe a little easier, dreaming of yet another update in the not-so-distant future. Let’s just hope that the journey to Silksong’s eventual release is as thrilling as the game promises to be.
