Hollow Knight: Silksong: when will it be released, trailers, gameplay and latest news

The original Hollow Knight was released in 2017 and was immediately recognized as an impressive Metroidvania game. The hand-drawn art style made even the bleak, dreary, bug-filled world known as Hollow Knight an interesting place to explore. Combined with user-friendly controls, light soulslike elements, enjoyable enhancements, and a mysterious story, Hollow Knight has made its way onto many critics’ and players’ favorite games lists.

Hollow Knight is a game that has become a favorite of many critics and players alike.

Team Cherry, the three-person team behind Hollow Knight, didn’t stop there. The team continued to work on the game over the next year, releasing four DLCs that expanded the game’s world and added new enemies, bosses, quests, and game modes.

Originally planned as just another DLC, the Hollow Knight: Silksong add-on became such a massive undertaking that Team Cherry decided to make it a full-fledged sequel. The development of the new installment has been as mysterious as the world it takes place in, and many questions are still shrouded in darkness. In anticipation of another dive into that world, here’s everything we know about Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Hollow Knight: Silksong release date

It’s not officially known when Hollow Knight: Silksong will be released. It was first announced with a trailer in February 2019, but we can assume that development started right after the release of the last DLC, as it was originally planned to be a standalone DLC. Despite the leaks, it’s not known exactly when it will finally arrive, but hopefully we’ll get our hands on it in 2024.

Silksong.

Platforms

Hollow Knight: Silksong is officially announced for Nintendo Switch and PC only, and will be an Xbox Game Pass add-on. However, the original Hollow Knight was originally a PC-only game, then released on Switch and finally on the PS4 and Xbox One consoles, so Silksong may not be coming to all platforms at once.

Silksong: Silksong: Silksong: Silksong may not be coming to all platforms at once.

It all depends on what arrangements Team Cherry has made with Nintendo and Microsoft for console exclusives. Given the success of the original game on all platforms, it’s safe to assume that it will gradually come out on all major platforms.

Silksong will be released on all major platforms.

Trailers

The trailer for Hollow Knight: Silksong, which debuted in February 2019, shows off even more of the gorgeous animation and gameplay seen in the first game. Naturally, the focus of the trailer is on the new playable character we’ve already fought in Hollow Knight, — Hornet.

The trailer also shows off the game’s new character, — Hornet.

The Hornet differs from the Knight in more ways than just visuals. For example, she can talk, which adds a lot more personality. The trailer also reveals a few key details about the game, including 150 new enemies, new bosses, friendly NPCs and towns with quests to complete, and tools to find and use.

The trailer also reveals a few key details about the game.

Although the game’s art style is unmistakably reminiscent of Hollow Knight, the items shown in the trailer are all — new. From the little that was shown in the trailer and a few more gameplay shots, some story elements take shape. Breaking out of the cage, Hornet finds himself in the new kingdom of Farloom, far from Hollow Knight, where a new and unknown curse has infected much of the bug population.

Hollow Knight’s storyline is the story of a new kingdom, Farloom, where a new and unknown curse has infected much of the bug population.

Here, she’ll have to work her way to the top of the citadel, which is the opposite of how in Hollow Knight the progression was mostly downhill. The trailer showed a variety of different locations that Hornet will have to explore on her journey.

Hornet’s journey will include a number of different locations.

Hollow Knight: Silksong appeared in an unexpected place, showing a trailer at the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase in 2022. Unfortunately, the trailer didn’t reveal when the game will be released. Instead, they showed off some new gameplay, which we’re looking forward to.

Silksong.

Gameplay

Silksong doesn’t stray from the Metroidvania genre for which the first game was so beloved. Players will have another new interconnected and expansive world to explore. Of course, we can also look forward to a host of new abilities to find and learn, which will open up previously inaccessible areas while also expanding combat capabilities.

The main difference between this game and Hollow Knight, like the ability to speak, is Hornet herself. Another quote from the developer explains that «Hornet’s growth changes everything». In the trailer, we also get to see this in action. Not only is Hornet much larger than Knight, but he also has a higher base movement speed, a higher jump height, and the ability to grab and climb ledges.

Hornet’s height changes everything.

Hornet fights with his needle, rather than a nail like Knight, and has a wider range of moves for attacks than simple punches. Also unique to the Hornet is the item creation system. Using materials called projectile shards collected during your playthrough, you can create new weapons and tools. Confirmed items include — the Pimpillo Bomb, which is a large explosive weapon, Sting Shards, which shoot out spikes when hit by the Hornet, and the Straight Pins throwing weapon.

The Pimpillo Bomb, which is a large explosive weapon, and the Straight Pins throwing weapon.

Silk Soul mode is also confirmed, which is unlocked after the first playthrough of the game. The original Hollow Knight had a Steel Soul mode that made death permanent and made some changes to NPCs. It’s likely that Silk Soul mode will offer a similar level of difficulty, but its exact details, beyond «testing skills in an entirely new mode that turns the game into a unique, challenging experience», are not yet known.

The exact details of how it works, beyond «testing skills in an entirely new mode that turns the game into a unique, challenging experience», are not yet known.

Pre-order

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While there’s no final release date for the game, pre-orders aren’t available on any system, but if you have Xbox Game Pass, you’ll get the game on that service when it goes on sale. You can add the game to your wishlist on your platform of choice, but that’s all that’s available for now.

The game is available on Xbox Game Pass.

It’s worth noting that Team Cherry is keeping the original promise made on Kickstarter — to make DLC free for fans. So even though the game has evolved from DLC to a full-fledged standalone sequel, everyone who participated in the campaign on Kickstarter will get Silksong for free.

Silksong is available for free.