As of December 2025, fans searching for the Hollow Knight Silksong expansion continue to flood gaming forums, news sites, and social media for any official update. Yet, despite years of anticipation, Team Cherry has not released a standalone expansion or downloadable content for Silksong — in fact, the game itself still hasn’t launched.
What we do know is that Silksong has grown into something much larger than originally envisioned, evolving from what was once planned as an expansion of the original Hollow Knight into a full-fledged sequel.
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From Expansion to Full Game: How Silksong Began
Back in 2019, Team Cherry revealed that Silksong was initially conceived as a major expansion for the original Hollow Knight. The idea was simple: introduce a new playable character, Hornet, who appeared as both an ally and antagonist in the first game.
But during development, the scope of the project expanded dramatically. The developers realized that Hornet’s speed, agility, and combat style required an entirely different world and mechanics. That shift led to the creation of Hollow Knight: Silksong as a standalone sequel, rather than just an add-on.
Since then, players have been waiting for this new journey to the kingdom of Pharloom — a fresh setting filled with new enemies, quests, and lore.
So while there is no Hollow Knight Silksong expansion in the traditional sense, the game itself represents the ultimate “expansion” of Team Cherry’s original vision.
Development Status: What We Know in December 2025
After years of silence, Silksong remains in active development. The small, three-person team at Team Cherry has repeatedly emphasized their commitment to quality and completeness before release.
The studio confirmed earlier in 2025 that development is progressing steadily but admitted that the game has grown beyond its original timeline. No specific release window has been announced yet, but all official communication indicates that the project has not been abandoned or delayed indefinitely.
As of this month, the confirmed development details are:
- The game is built in Unity, featuring an entirely new world with over 150 unique enemies.
- Hornet’s moveset includes faster traversal, acrobatics, and craftable tools.
- It will launch on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms.
- Xbox Game Pass subscribers will have access on launch day.
Players can expect a much larger map than the original Hollow Knight, featuring more vertical environments, improved enemy AI, and a revamped quest system.
The Gameplay Vision: A Deeper Look at Silksong’s Mechanics
In Silksong, players take control of Hornet — a character who moves with speed and precision that far exceed the Knight’s abilities from the original game.
Team Cherry has confirmed that the sequel’s design focuses on agility and upward mobility. Hornet’s movement includes climbing, darting, and a grappling thread that changes how players explore the world.
Core Features Confirmed by Team Cherry:
- Dynamic Combat System: Hornet’s speed and weapon variety introduce faster-paced battles.
- Crafting System: Players can collect materials from defeated enemies to create traps, tools, and healing items.
- Quest Journal: A new feature that tracks tasks, side missions, and character interactions.
- Expanded World: Over a dozen interconnected regions in the new kingdom of Pharloom.
Every detail revealed so far shows that Silksong is not just a sequel but a complete reinvention — effectively the expansion that became a standalone masterpiece.
Why Fans Keep Searching for “Hollow Knight Silksong Expansion”
Even though Team Cherry hasn’t announced post-launch content, fans often search for “Hollow Knight Silksong expansion” because of two key reasons:
- Historical Context: The game began as an expansion, and many players still associate it with that term.
- Anticipation for DLC: Given how much content was added to the original Hollow Knight through free updates — such as Godmaster, Hidden Dreams, and Lifeblood — fans expect Silksong will eventually receive similar expansions after release.
However, as of now, Team Cherry has made no mention of any additional DLC or expansions for Silksong. The studio’s small size and perfectionist approach mean their priority remains completing the base game first.
Community Reactions and 2025 Updates
Across Reddit, YouTube, and Discord, Silksong discussions remain as active as ever. Players have created mods, artwork, and even fan games inspired by the trailers and concept art.
Every time an indie showcase or major gaming event approaches, speculation resurfaces that Silksong will finally appear. Yet Team Cherry continues its quiet development cycle — offering minimal but reassuring updates.
The most recent community post from mid-2025 confirmed that:
- The game’s world-building and soundtrack are nearly complete.
- Internal testing is ongoing for boss encounters and quest flow.
- Hornet’s movement system has been fully refined.
That last update, while brief, was enough to reignite hope among fans that a release window may be revealed sometime in 2026.
The Evolution of Indie Game Development
Part of what makes Silksong’s long wait so notable is its reflection of modern indie development challenges. Team Cherry is a small team based in Adelaide, Australia, consisting of just three core members:
- Ari Gibson – Art and animation
- William Pellen – Game design and programming
- Christopher Larkin – Music and sound design
Unlike large studios with hundreds of developers, Team Cherry handles every detail in-house, from code to visuals. This handcrafted approach is what made the original Hollow Knight so loved, but it also explains why Silksong has taken so long.
Their transparency about prioritizing quality over deadlines has earned them respect within the gaming community. Many players view the extended development time as a positive sign that Silksong will live up to its immense expectations.
What Makes Silksong So Anticipated
The original Hollow Knight is often regarded as one of the best indie games ever made. Its deep lore, challenging gameplay, and haunting atmosphere redefined what small studios could achieve.
Since its release in 2017, the game has sold over 3 million copies worldwide and continues to attract new players each year. Its success created one of the most loyal fanbases in modern gaming.
Fans are drawn to Silksong because it promises:
- A new perspective: Playing as Hornet offers a different tone and faster pace.
- A new world: Pharloom replaces Hallownest, with a distinct visual identity and lore.
- A new story: Hornet’s personal journey mirrors the Knight’s but explores themes of duty and freedom.
Combined with Christopher Larkin’s emotionally rich soundtrack, these elements make Silksong one of the most awaited games of the decade.
Potential Timeline for Release
While Team Cherry has not confirmed a release date, industry analysts and fans are optimistic that Hollow Knight: Silksong may reach final stages by late 2026.
Why that estimate?
- The game has been in development since at least 2017.
- Public updates in 2025 mentioned internal testing, suggesting gameplay systems are nearing completion.
- The studio has begun coordinating with platform holders for simultaneous launch preparations, including Game Pass.
That said, Team Cherry’s focus remains on quality. Their decision to avoid rushed deadlines may delay the release further, but history shows the result is likely worth the wait.
What’s Next After Silksong?
If Silksong’s release mirrors the success of Hollow Knight, it’s almost certain Team Cherry will explore additional updates or expansions afterward.
The original game received four major free expansions, each adding new bosses, quests, and lore. Fans expect a similar approach once Silksong launches — though Team Cherry has not confirmed any post-launch plans yet.
Given the developer’s history, it’s possible that an official Hollow Knight Silksong expansion could arrive months or even years after release, continuing Hornet’s journey deeper into Pharloom.
