Yesterday, IGN reported that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be featured in an interactive exhibit at an Australian museum starting September 2025, offering a rare hands-on preview of the long-awaited title. Alongside this news came the release of an official sprite sheet showcasing various animations of the game’s protagonist, Hornet. As expected, the internet quickly seized on one particularly curious frame.

“In what situation \[is\] making a sprite of naked Hornet necessary?” questioned one user on a Reddit thread analyzing the exclusive artwork.

Among the many frames showing Hornet in combat-ready stances and calm idle poses, one image stood out. In it, Hornet is seen casually holding her cloak under one arm, with no visible clothing beyond her basic undergarments. (A close-up of the image can be seen below, or within the original sprite sheet on the right-hand side, just beneath the topmost ring graphic):

“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,” remarked one redditor.

Another asked with disbelief: “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????” while a third shouted: “IN WHAT KIND OF SITUATION WOULD THEY EVEN NEED THIS SPRITE?”

Soon after, the discussion took a more humorous—and slightly suggestive—turn.

“So, we don't have to bother making a mod,” joked one respondent, while another quipped: “We're going straight to ESRB 18+ for this one.”

One thread OP reacted strongly: “HORNET PUT YOUR CLOAK BACK ON THAT'S SO INDECENT WHAT THE HELL,” only to be met with replies such as: “This looks so wrong,” and “this is completely unnecessary.”

“I do not like this,” another user simply declared.

While theories abound, the most likely explanation seems to be that players may have the ability to upgrade or customize Hornet’s cloak during gameplay. Until further details are released, however, fans are free to speculate wildly about the context and purpose of the mysterious sprite.

Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025 Screenshots

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Team Cherry’s sequel remains one of the most anticipated games in the world, consistently topping Steam’s wishlist charts. Silksong made a surprise appearance at Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct last month, and shortly afterward, Team Cherry officially announced a 2025 release window—bringing relief to its incredibly patient fanbase. With confirmation that it will be playable at Australia’s ACMI museum in Melbourne starting September 18, speculation has begun that a full launch could arrive around August. Of course, nothing is confirmed yet.

The museum exhibit, titled Game Worlds, will feature playable versions of several high-profile titles, including in-depth displays exploring the artistic and design philosophies behind Hollow Knight: Silksong. For now, fans will continue dissecting every pixel in search of clues about Hornet’s next move—and yes, that includes the infamous cloakless frame.