Hornet's Cloak Removal in Hollow Knight: Silksong Sparks Player Curiosity

Yesterday, IGN unveiled that the much-anticipated game Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable at an Australian museum in September 2025. They also released a sprite sheet from the game, which has sparked a significant reaction online.

One Reddit user questioned the necessity of a particular sprite, asking, "In what situation [is] making a sprite of naked Hornet necessary?" The sprite sheet features multiple images of Hornet, the star of Silksong, in various poses, including one where she is casually carrying her cloak under one arm. This image, in particular, has drawn a lot of attention and debate.

A close-up of the controversial sprite, located on the right-hand side of the original image.

Reddit users have expressed a range of reactions. One user humorously remarked, "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? This is cursed." Another user questioned the authenticity of the sprite, asking, "Is this real???? There’s no way this is a sprite that is going to be in Silksong. Is that just what she looks like????" Meanwhile, another user exclaimed, "IN WHAT KIND OF SITUATION WOULD THEY EVEN NEED THIS SPRITE?"

The conversation took a playful turn, with some users suggesting that this sprite might eliminate the need for certain mods, and others jokingly predicting an ESRB 18+ rating. Comments ranged from "HORNET PUT YOUR CLOAK BACK ON THAT'S SO INDECENT WHAT THE HELL" to "this is completely unnecessary," with one user simply stating, "I do not like this."

While the exact purpose of the sprite remains unclear, a plausible explanation might be that it relates to upgrading or changing Hornet's cloak. Until more information is available, fans are free to let their imaginations run wild.

Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025 Screenshots

View 5 ImagesTeam Cherry’s sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, continues to be one of the most eagerly awaited games, holding the top spot on Steam's wishlist charts for years. The game made a brief appearance at Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct last month, and Team Cherry subsequently confirmed a 2025 release window, much to the delight of its patient fanbase. With the news that it will be playable at Australia's national museum of screen culture, ACMI, starting September 18, speculation is rife that the game might launch around August, though no official confirmation has been made yet.

Silksong will be featured at the Melbourne museum as part of the Game Worlds exhibition, which will also showcase the game's design and artistic direction.