Hornet's Cloak Removal in Silksong: Exhausted Dad Vibe Puzzles Fans

Yesterday, IGN announced that the much-anticipated game, Hollow Knight: Silksong, will be playable at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in September 2025. Along with this exciting news, IGN shared a sprite sheet from the game, which quickly sparked a lively discussion across the internet.

On a Reddit thread analyzing the sprite sheet, one commenter questioned the necessity of a particular sprite showing Hornet, the game's protagonist, without her cloak: "In what situation [is] making a sprite of naked Hornet necessary?" The sprite in question depicts Hornet casually holding her cloak under one arm, leading to a variety of humorous and speculative reactions from fans.

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 expressed disbelief, 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????" The discussion took a playful turn with comments like, "IN WHAT KIND OF SITUATION WOULD THEY EVEN NEED THIS SPRITE?"

The conversation then veered into more humorous territory, with some users suggesting that this sprite could lead to an ESRB 18+ rating or eliminate the need for certain mods. Others playfully scolded Hornet for her indecency, with comments like, "HORNET PUT YOUR CLOAK BACK ON THAT'S SO INDECENT WHAT THE HELL," and "This looks so wrong, this is completely unnecessary."

Amidst the playful banter, some users expressed discomfort, stating simply, "I do not like this." However, a more plausible theory emerged that this sprite might relate to potential upgrades or changes to Hornet's cloak in the game.

For fans eager for more, Hollow Knight: Silksong has been a top wishlist item on Steam for years and briefly appeared at Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct last month. Team Cherry, the game's developer, has confirmed a 2025 release window, and the upcoming playable demo at ACMI from September 18 has led to speculation about a possible launch around August, though no official date has been set.

The game will be featured at ACMI as part of the Game Worlds exhibition, which will also explore the game's design and artistic direction.

Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025 Screenshots

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