A demo for Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable on PC and both versions of the new ROG Xbox Ally handheld at Gamescom 2025 from August 20-24. Hollow Knight: Silksong is easily one of the most anticipated releases of the year, with fans constantly scouring the net for just a hint of potential news for the follow-up to Team Cherry's 2017 Metroidvania Hollow Knight. Attendees at this year's Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, will have the opportunity to be the first to experience both the demo and the new Xbox handhelds.

The event demo is huge news for Hollow Knight fans after Hollow Knight: Silksong skipped Gamescom in 2024, severely disappointing fans who had held their breath for more information on the game. The potential for news regarding Hollow Knight: Silksong has become a running joke within the Hollow Knight fandom, with new memes accompanying social media posts in reaction to each reveal — or lack thereof — with each passing showcase. Now, a year later, Gamescom 2025 attendees will finally get their hands on the game fans have waited for over eight years to play.

Hollow Knight Zote and Hornet
Hollow Knight: Silksong Can't Forget One Thing That Made The Original Tick

If Hollow Knight: Silksong wants to be as successful as its predecessor, it must ensure that it retains a certain aspect one might not expect.

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The new demo for Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable on both the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X at the Xbox booth from August 20-24. Fans who aren't able to attend the event will have a chance to catch a glimpse of the demo via live broadcasts from the Gamescom showroom floor on August 20 and 21. The showcase presents the first opportunity for hands-on experience with both Hollow Knight: Silksong and the new handhelds, which are expected to launch in late 2025. Prior to Xbox's announcement, news of a playable demo for Hollow Night: Silksong was limited to an Australian museum exhibit scheduled for mid-September.

A Demo for Hollow Knight: Silksong Will Be Playable at Gamescom 2025

Xbox previously revealed during the June 8 Xbox Games Showcase that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available on the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds at launch. The showcase drew speculation that the game would be delayed to launch alongside the Xbox handhelds, but Team Cherry clarified that the game would not be a launch title for the new consoles. Team Cherry Marketing Manager Matthew Griffin shared that Hollow Knight: Silksong would be available before Christmas, but an official release date has still not been announced as of this writing.

While news of a playable demo for Hollow Knight: Silksong is exciting, fans not attending Gamescom this year will have to wait a bit longer to experience the game for themselves. Hopefully, Team Cherry will release the demo for all players once the showcase has ended on August 24. Fans earlier this month discovered manual updates made to the Hollow Knight: Silksong Steam page, which could be a sign that Team Cherry is preparing for a big update.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Tag Page Cover Art
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Metroidvania
Action
Adventure
Soulslike
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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Released
September 4, 2025
ESRB
Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
Developer(s)
Team Cherry
Publisher(s)
Team Cherry
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Hollow Knight Silksong Press Image 1-1
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Engine
Unity
Genre(s)
Metroidvania, Action, Adventure, Soulslike