Hornet's Cloakless Sprite in Silksong Fuels Fan Speculation

Yesterday, IGN announced that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable at an Australian museum in September 2025, unveiling a sprite sheet from the eagerly awaited game. The reveal set the internet abuzz.

"Why would they need a sprite of Hornet without her cloak?" wondered a commenter on a Reddit thread analyzing the exclusive sheet.

Among numerous images of Silksong’s protagonist Hornet, showcasing her in various combat and casual poses, one sprite depicts her holding her cloak under her arm. (See the close-up below or view it on the original sheet, located on the right side, just below the topmost ring):

"What in-game scenario requires her to carry her cloak like an overworked parent coming home? This feels bizarre," remarked one redditor.

"Is this legit? There’s no way this sprite is in Silksong. Is that really her appearance?" speculated another, while a third exclaimed: "What possible scenario calls for this sprite?"

The conversation then took a more heated turn.

"No need for a mod with this sprite," quipped one user, while another declared: "This is heading straight for an ESRB 18+ rating."

"Hornet, put your cloak back on! This is outrageous," scolded another thread’s OP, prompting responses like, "This feels so off," and "This is entirely unnecessary."

"I’m not a fan of this," stated another user.

The most likely explanation might be the ability to upgrade or swap Hornet’s cloak, but for now, fans are letting their imaginations run wild.

Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025 Screenshots

Team Cherry’s sequel remains one of the most eagerly anticipated games globally, consistently topping Steam’s wishlist charts. Silksong appeared briefly at Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct last month, and Team Cherry later confirmed a 2025 release window, delighting patient fans. With the game set to be playable at Australia’s ACMI museum starting September 18, some speculate an August launch, though nothing is confirmed yet.

Silksong will feature at the Melbourne museum’s Game Worlds exhibition, which will also showcase displays exploring the game’s design and artistic vision.