Team Cherry dropped a surprise announcement trailer today revealing that Hollow Knight: Silksong will release on September 4. The brief video confirmed the date while showcasing new gameplay footage of Hornet navigating the mysterious kingdom of Pharloom.
The sequel will launch on PC via Steam and GOG, alongside PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Microsoft also confirmed that Silksong will hit Xbox Game Pass on day one, giving subscribers instant access to one of the most anticipated indies of the year.
Originally conceived as DLC, Silksong grew into a full sequel with Hornet taking center stage. Her silk-based abilities and faster movement style promise a sharp contrast to the methodical Knight of the first game. Combat emphasizes aerial combos and vertical traversal, with Hornet using silk to bind wounds instead of soul-based healing.
Players will explore Pharloom, a new kingdom with entirely fresh biomes, enemies, and bosses distinct from Hallownest. Team Cherry has also teased expanded quest systems and a post-game “Silk Soul” challenge mode designed for those chasing extra difficulty.
Physical editions haven’t been announced yet, though fans expect news closer to launch. Original Hollow Knight Kickstarter backers will receive Silksong for free, since the project started life as a Hornet DLC stretch goal. Team Cherry will survey backers on their platform preference ahead of release.
Why Team Cherry went radio silent
Development began in 2017 right after Hollow Knight’s success, with Silksong officially revealed in 2019. After that, Team Cherry went almost completely silent, aside from a brief showing at the 2022 Xbox showcase.
Recent reporting suggests this wasn’t due to development trouble, but rather the studio’s effort to avoid spoilers and manage the game’s expanded scope without outside pressure.
