Hollow Knight: Silksong Sprite Sheet Sparks Curiosity — and Chaos

The Hollow Knight: Silksong news just keeps coming. Following IGN’s exclusive announcement that the long-awaited indie sequel will be playable at ACMI in September 2025, fans were also treated to a rare behind-the-scenes look: a full sprite sheet of Hornet, the game’s lead character.

And hidden among the elegant leaps, dashes, and battle-ready stances? A single, now infamous sprite of Hornet holding her cloak under one arm.

The internet did what it does best—panic, meme, and speculate wildly.

 Why Is Hornet Carrying Her Cloak?

Reddit lit up within hours of the sprite sheet’s reveal. One of the first viral comments summed up the collective confusion:

“In what situation [is] making a sprite of naked Hornet necessary?”

Others chimed in with equally baffled, and increasingly dramatic, takes:

• “What kind of situation in-game calls for her to remove her cloak and hold it like she's an exhausted dad returning from work?”

• “Is that just what she looks like????”

• “HORNET PUT YOUR CLOAK BACK ON THAT’S SO INDECENT WHAT THE HELL.”

It’s safe to say: this wasn’t on anyone’s Silksong bingo card.

Fans Go Full Thirst Mode

What started as a quirky design detail quickly escalated into unfiltered fan reactions. While some tried to keep it wholesome—or at least lore-driven—others took a more… passionate route:

“So, we don't have to bother making a mod,” one person wrote.“We're going straight to ESRB 18+ for this one.”

Needless to say, this single sprite has created more discourse than some entire trailers.

What Could This Sprite Actually Mean?

While fan speculation is running wild, the most grounded theory is this: Hornet’s cloak might be customizable or upgradable in-game, and the cloakless sprite is used for transition animations or equipment changes.

It would make sense—Team Cherry is known for their attention to detail, and the sprite might reflect a gameplay mechanic rather than just an artistic flex.

Still, given the tone of the game and Hornet’s usually composed appearance, seeing her casually lugging her cloak is definitely out of character—and that’s what’s fueling the fire.

The Bigger Picture: Silksong at ACMI

All this cloak chaos is part of the broader excitement around Silksong’s museum debut. Starting September 18, 2025, the game will be publicly playable at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne as part of their “Game Worlds” exhibit. The display will explore Silksong’s design process, sprite art, and gameplay mechanics—making it the most substantial update since the game’s announcement in 2019.

So, yes: Hornet’s sprite might be confusing, funny, or borderline cursed—but it’s also a clear sign that development is further along than ever.

Final Thoughts

Team Cherry hasn’t given us a release date yet, but if they're ready to let the public play Silksong in a curated museum setting—and share polished sprite sheets—we're likely very close to launch.

Until then, expect more memes, more theories, and probably more cloak discourse.