Hornet's Cloak Removal in Silksong: Exhausted Dad Vibes?

Yesterday, IGN unveiled that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable at an Australian museum in September 2025, accompanied by the release of a sprite sheet from the much-awaited game. This news quickly ignited a flurry of discussions across the internet.

One Reddit user sparked a debate with the question, "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 holding her cloak under one arm, which you can see in the close-up below or on the right-hand side of the original sheet, just under the topmost ring.

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

Commenters on Reddit 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 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????" Amidst the confusion, some users speculated on potential in-game scenarios, while others took a more humorous or suggestive tone, with comments like, "So, we don't have to bother making a mod," and "We're going straight to ESRB 18+ for this one."

The debate escalated as users voiced their discomfort and amusement, with one user exclaiming, "HORNET PUT YOUR CLOAK BACK ON THAT'S SO INDECENT WHAT THE HELL," and another replying, "This looks so wrong," and "this is completely unnecessary." Another simply stated, "I do not like this."

Despite the uproar, a plausible explanation might be that players will have the option to upgrade or change Hornet's cloak. For now, fans are left to let their imaginations run wild.

Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025 Screenshots

View 5 ImagesHollow Knight: Silksong, developed by Team Cherry, continues to be one of the most eagerly awaited games globally, maintaining its position at the top of Steam's wishlist charts for years. Following a brief appearance at Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct last month, Team Cherry confirmed a 2025 release window, much to the delight of its patient fanbase. With the game set to be playable at Australia's national museum of screen culture, ACMI, from September 18, speculation is rife that a launch might occur around August, though no official confirmation has been provided.

Silksong will be a highlight of the Melbourne museum's Game Worlds exhibition, which will also explore the game's design and artistic direction, offering fans a deeper look into the creative process behind this highly anticipated sequel.