Hollow Knight fans have been eagerly awaiting news about its highly anticipated sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong. The wait has become so intense that even a brief mention, such as the one from Xbox in a recent ID@Xbox post, can spark excitement among those hoping for a 2025 release.

In a post on Xbox Wire, ID@Xbox director Guy Richards highlighted the success of the program, which has paid over $5 billion to independent developers. The post celebrated past successes like Phasmophobia, Balatro, Another Crab's Treasure, and Neva. However, it was the section on upcoming games that caught everyone's attention, with Richards mentioning:

"Looking ahead, our lineup is incredible with upcoming games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Descenders Next, and FBC: Firebreak to play across the whole Xbox universe… and of course Hollow Knight: Silksong too!"

This mention suggests that Hollow Knight: Silksong could be released anytime between now and the distant future. The other games mentioned have specific release dates: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on April 24, Descenders Next on April 9, and FBC: Firebreak tentatively slated for 2025. This could indicate that Hollow Knight: Silksong is closer to release than previously thought.

The anticipation for Silksong has been building since its announcement roughly six years ago, leading fans to react with a mix of humor and impatience to this latest mention. On the Silksong subreddit, one user quipped, "Where's the bait?" while another posted an image from Squid Game Season 2, captioned, "Silksong being mentioned by Xbox?" showcasing the protagonist Seong Gi-hun saying, "I have played these games before!"

The community's reaction reflects a blend of jest and irony, typical of groups bonded over prolonged waits for updates. One post humorously described the Silksong community as a "circus at this point," using a Patrick Star/Man Ray meme to illustrate the point.

Amidst the speculation, there's a prevailing theory that news about Hollow Knight: Silksong might come on April 2 during Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct. This theory gained traction after developer Team Cherry hinted at something around the official reveal of the Switch 2. While some fans remain hopeful, others are skeptical, with one commenter jokingly referring to the community as an "[$8] Mega Buffoon Pack" in response to the circus meme.

The diverse reactions to Xbox's casual mention of Hollow Knight: Silksong showcase the rollercoaster of hope and doubt that fans are experiencing. My favorite response, from Reddit user u/cerberusthedoge, sums it up perfectly: "We got Hollow Knight Silksong 2 before Hollow Knight Silksong."