After years of anticipation, the indie sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable for the first time at a public event during Gamescom 2025, at Xbox’s booth in Cologne, Germany, from August 21 to 24. Microsoft announced that the highly awaited title from Team Cherry will be available for hands-on testing on PCs and the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X portable devices, marking a historic moment for fans of the metroidvania genre. The demo comes ahead of the game’s official launch, scheduled for late 2025, before the holiday season. Gamescom, the world’s largest gaming event in terms of public attendance, is set to draw crowds to Xbox’s booth in Hall 7 of the Koelnmesse, with Silksong as a major highlight. The announcement reignites excitement for one of the most anticipated indie games of the decade, while Team Cherry remains tight-lipped about an exact release date.
Gamescom 2025 will also showcase other experiences, such as the public debut of the ROG Xbox Ally portable consoles, which promise to bring Xbox’s power to a handheld format. The event will feature demos of major titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 and Grounded 2, reinforcing Microsoft’s presence in the gaming market. Below are the key highlights of Xbox’s booth:
- Hollow Knight: Silksong: first public playable demo on PC and ROG Xbox Ally.
- ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X: hands-on debut of Asus’s new Xbox-supported portables.
- Ninja Gaiden 4: playable demo of the long-awaited franchise return.
- The Outer Worlds 2: theater experience with a non-playable presentation.
The event underscores Xbox’s commitment to delivering diverse experiences, blending first-party and third-party titles to attract players across platforms. Silksong, however, remains the biggest draw, especially after years of speculation and limited official updates.
What to expect from the Silksong demo
The Hollow Knight: Silksong demo at Gamescom 2025 will offer the first public chance to experience the gameplay of protagonist Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, in her new adventure in the kingdom of Pharloom. Announced in 2019, the game began as an expansion to the acclaimed 2017 Hollow Knight but evolved into a full-fledged sequel with a larger scope and ambitious goals. Team Cherry, the Australian indie studio, promised a vast world featuring coral forests, mossy caverns, and golden cities, paired with a refined acrobatic combat system.
The demo is likely to showcase Hornet’s new mechanics, which include agile movements and an arsenal of unique weapons and tools. Unlike the nameless knight from the first game, Hornet is a more dynamic character with abilities blending melee combat and trap-based mechanics. Team Cherry has indicated that the game will retain its metroidvania essence, with non-linear exploration and intense challenges, while introducing innovations in level design and narrative.
While specific details about the demo’s content remain undisclosed, expectations point to it featuring an introductory area of the game, similar to the 2019 E3 demo but updated to reflect development progress. The ability to play on portable devices like the ROG Xbox Ally X also suggests optimizations for multiple platforms, enhancing accessibility.
- Key elements expected in the demo:
- Exploration of an initial area of the Pharloom kingdom.
- Showcase of Hornet’s acrobatic abilities.
- Combat against new enemies with unique attack patterns.
- Interaction with exclusive tools and traps.
- Graphics and soundtrack in Team Cherry’s signature style.
The long wait for Silksong
The journey to Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Gamescom 2025 appearance has been marked by years of anticipation and speculation. Announced in February 2019, the game quickly became one of the most awaited indie titles, fueled by the success of the original Hollow Knight, which sold over 2.8 million copies by 2020 and is widely regarded as one of the best metroidvanias ever made. However, sparse updates and repeated delays turned Silksong into a near-mythical entity in gaming, with fans creating memes and “silkposts” on social media to cope with the wait.
Team Cherry, a small studio of just three core developers, faced challenges meeting the sky-high expectations. In 2023, the studio announced a delay to 2024, but silence persisted until a recent confirmation that the game is set for 2025. Matthew “Leth” Griffin from Team Cherry stated in a Discord message that development is “progressing well” and that the launch will occur before the 2025 holidays, reigniting fans’ hopes.
The decision to showcase a demo at Gamescom suggests the game is in an advanced development stage, possibly with a release date announcement during the event. Silksong’s presence at Xbox’s booth, alongside titles like Borderlands 4 and Final Fantasy 16, also hints at a strategic partnership with Microsoft, potentially including a Game Pass launch.
Gamescom’s impact on the gaming scene
Gamescom, held annually in Cologne, Germany, is the world’s largest gaming event by public attendance, drawing over 370,000 visitors in recent editions. The 2025 event, from August 20 to 24, will serve as a showcase for major industry players, with Xbox standing out for its diverse lineup. Beyond Silksong, Microsoft’s booth will offer over 20 playable demos, including Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which will feature a themed puzzle competition involving a mummified cat.
Xbox’s official broadcasts on August 20 and 21, available on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, will include news, developer interviews, and new trailers. For those unable to attend, live coverage from outlets like IGN will provide real-time updates, broadening the event’s reach.
- Other highlights from Xbox’s Gamescom 2025 booth:
- Grounded 2: playable demo of the survival co-op sequel.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: update featuring new cities.
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: experience with the base game.
- Final Fantasy 16 and 7 Remake Intergrade: Xbox versions playable.
The role of ROG Xbox Ally portables
The integration of Hollow Knight: Silksong with the new ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X portables is a standout feature of Microsoft’s Gamescom presence. Developed in partnership with Asus, these devices aim to compete with the Steam Deck, offering a portable Xbox experience with access to Game Pass and optimized titles. The Silksong demo running on these devices indicates that Team Cherry is ensuring compatibility across formats, appealing to players who value mobility.
Unveiled in June 2025, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X promise improvements in performance, battery life, and ergonomics. Gamescom will mark the first public hands-on opportunity for these devices, with Silksong as a flagship title. Featuring a visually intricate and technically demanding game like Silksong to promote the portables underscores Microsoft’s confidence in the hardware’s capabilities.
Community reactions and expectations
The announcement of a playable Silksong demo at Gamescom sparked a wave of excitement among fans, tempered by cautious optimism. Communities on Reddit, such as r/HollowKnight, celebrated the news with over 900 upvotes on a post about the demo, but many expressed skepticism, fearing it might reuse content from the 2019 E3 demo. Comments like “If it’s the same demo from five years ago, I’ll laugh until I cry” reflect the mix of hope and wariness after years of waiting.
Team Cherry, aware of the pressure, has avoided specific promises, but their Gamescom presence suggests the game is nearing completion. Fans speculate that the event could bring a new trailer or even a release date, given its proximity to the 2025 holiday season. The lack of a publicly available demo for download, however, disappointed some fans unable to travel to Cologne.
- Community reactions:
- Excitement over playing Silksong after six years.
- Skepticism about the demo’s content and its impact on the release date.
- Anticipation for an official announcement during Xbox’s broadcasts.
- Frustration over the demo’s exclusivity to Gamescom attendees.
Why Silksong is so anticipated
The hype surrounding Hollow Knight: Silksong extends beyond the original game’s quality. The first Hollow Knight captivated players with its interconnected world, high difficulty, and unique art direction, featuring hand-drawn visuals and a melancholic soundtrack. Silksong promises to expand this formula with a new kingdom, more dynamic mechanics, and a charismatic protagonist, raising expectations for a game that could redefine the metroidvania genre.
The development delays, while frustrating, are seen by many as a sign of Team Cherry’s commitment to quality over rushed deadlines. Gamescom 2025 will be a critical test for the studio, which must prove the game meets the expectations built over six years. For Xbox, the demo is a chance to bolster its relevance in the indie market and attract players to the Game Pass ecosystem.
