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Hollow Knight: Silksong - Confirmed Features, Gameplay, Release Date

Last Updated: October 20, 2025

Hornet, protagonist of Hollow Knight Silksong, leaping in the cursed kingdom of Pharloom, wielding her needle and silk.

The wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong has been a journey unto itself, transforming from eager anticipation into a masterclass in patience for millions of fans. Since its announcement, the information from developer Team Cherry has been sparse, creating a void that the passionate community has filled with incredible creativity, theories, and even fully imagined questlines. While elaborate fan-made guides detailing adventures like the "Alchemist's Assistant" quest in the "Wormways" are a testament to this passion, it's crucial for players to distinguish between these imaginative concepts and the officially confirmed details. As we await the final release, this guide serves as the definitive, up-to-date resource on everything we actually know about Hornet's new adventure in the haunted kingdom of Pharloom.

The State of Silksong: Release Date & Development

First, let's address the most pressing question: when is Silksong coming out? As of now, there is no official release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong.

The game was featured at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase in June 2022, where it was announced to be a day-one Game Pass title. At the time, Xbox stated all games shown would be released within the next 12 months, creating an expectation for a launch by June 2023. However, in May 2023, Team Cherry's marketing and publishing lead, Matthew Griffin, officially announced a delay, stating that development was continuing but the game "has gotten quite big" and they needed more time to "make the game as good as we can." Since then, Team Cherry has remained quiet, diligently working on the project. Any specific release dates you may see are purely speculation until an official announcement is made.

A New Kingdom, A New Hero: Hornet's Journey

Unlike the silent Knight, Silksong's protagonist is the agile and vocal Hornet, Princess-Protector of Hallownest. Captured and brought to the unknown, cursed kingdom of Pharloom, Hornet's quest is to ascend to its shining citadel. Her journey will be fundamentally different from the Knight's descent into the abyss.

Hornet's abilities are built around speed, acrobatics, and aerial prowess. She is faster, jumps higher, and can mantle ledges, giving her a distinct and fluid moveset. Instead of collecting Soul to heal, Hornet uses Silk. She can Bind to instantly heal three masks of health, but this requires a full spool of Silk and must be done on the ground, creating a different risk-reward dynamic compared to the Knight's Focus ability.

Tools of the Hunt: Crafting and Customization

One of the biggest new systems confirmed for Silksong is crafting. As Hornet explores Pharloom, she will gather materials like Shell Shards from defeated foes. These resources can be used at benches to craft a variety of tools, weapons, and traps to suit different situations and playstyles.

Confirmed tools seen in demos and trailers include:

  • Pimpillo Grenades: Explosive projectiles for dealing area-of-effect damage.
  • Sting Shards: Caltrop-like spikes that can be thrown on the ground to damage enemies who walk over them.
  • Straight Pins: Simple throwing pins for ranged attacks.

This crafting system replaces the Charm system from the original Hollow Knight. Instead of finding and equipping Charms, players will customize Hornet's loadout with these crafted tools, which are organized into Crests (such as a "Gatherer's Crest"). This suggests a more dynamic and adaptable approach to combat and exploration.

Quests, NPCs, and the World of Pharloom

Pharloom is a vast and vibrant kingdom, seemingly much larger and more alive than Hallownest. It's filled with new lands, new cities, and over 150 all-new enemies and bosses. Hornet's quest to the citadel will be guided by a more structured quest system.

Unlike the first game, where objectives were often implicit, Silksong will feature a formal quest log. NPCs will give Hornet tasks—ranging from hunts to exploration—which can be tracked on notice boards in towns. This points to a world with more direct character interaction and layered objectives. We've seen glimpses of these quests, with names like "Gather" and "Wayfarers," hinting at the different activities players will undertake.

While the community has dreamed up fascinating characters like "Alchemist Zylotol" and his assistant "Zango," the official cast of NPCs remains largely a mystery. We know we will encounter rivals, allies, and strange new bugs who will aid or hinder Hornet's ascent. The game's narrative promises to unravel the mysteries of Pharloom, why Hornet was brought there, and the nature of the curse that afflicts the kingdom.

A Symphony of Steel Awaits

Hollow Knight: Silksong is shaping up to be a monumental sequel, expanding on the beloved formula with a new hero, new mechanics, and a vast new world to explore. While the wait continues, the confirmed details paint a picture of a game that is deeper, faster, and more complex than its predecessor. Team Cherry has a reputation for meticulous craftsmanship, and all signs point to them taking the necessary time to ensure Hornet's adventure meets the towering expectations set by the original. For now, the best course of action is to stay tuned to official announcements and be ready to explore the wonders of Pharloom when the gates finally open.