Hornet's Cloak Removal in Silksong Sparks Fan Theories

Yesterday, IGN unveiled that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable at an Australian museum in September 2025, alongside sharing a sprite sheet from the eagerly awaited game. The internet, as expected, erupted into a frenzy of discussions and memes.

One Reddit user sparked a debate by questioning, "In what situation [is] making a sprite of naked Hornet necessary?" The sprite sheet, featuring various poses of Silksong's protagonist Hornet, included a particularly notable image of her casually carrying her cloak under one arm. This image, seen on the right-hand side of the original sheet just below the topmost ring, has stirred a mix of confusion and amusement among fans.

A close-up of the controversial sprite.

Comments ranged from bewilderment to humor. One user 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 questioned its authenticity, 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, others speculated on its use, with one user exclaiming, "IN WHAT KIND OF SITUATION WOULD THEY EVEN NEED THIS SPRITE?"

The conversation took a more playful turn, with some users humorously suggesting that the game might need no mods, while others jested about the game's rating possibly shifting to ESRB 18+. Comments like "HORNET PUT YOUR CLOAK BACK ON THAT'S SO INDECENT WHAT THE HELL" and "this is completely unnecessary" added to the mix of reactions.

One plausible explanation for the sprite could be the potential for players to upgrade or change Hornet's cloak within the game, but for now, fans are left to let their imaginations run wild.

Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025 Screenshots

View 5 ImagesAs one of the most anticipated games globally, Silksong has dominated Steam's wishlist charts for years. The game briefly appeared at Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct last month, and soon after, Team Cherry confirmed a 2025 release window, much to the relief of its patient fanbase. With the announcement that Silksong will be playable at Australia's national museum of screen culture, ACMI, from September 18, speculation about a possible August launch has begun, though no official confirmation has been made yet.

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