IGN has exciting news for fans of Hollow Knight: Silksong, as it will be playable at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne starting September 18, 2025. Team Cherry, the Adelaide-based studio behind this highly anticipated game, has kept the broader release date under wraps, only confirming a 2025 window. However, this playable demo at Australia's national museum of screen culture offers a tantalizing glimpse into the future of this eagerly awaited title.
The game will be featured in ACMI's Game Worlds exhibition, which promises an in-depth look at Silksong's design and artistic direction. Attendees will have the chance to not only play the game but also explore the intricacies behind its creation, from the detailed animations of Hornet’s movements and attacks to the challenging logic of its boss fights.
Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025 Screenshots
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ACMI co-curators Bethan Johnson and Jini Maxwell expressed their enthusiasm, stating, "Since Hollow Knight: Silksong's initial announcement in 2019, it has been one of the most anticipated indie games on the planet – and we are thrilled to celebrate the design of this South Australian-made game as a centrepiece of Game Worlds in September. From the hundreds of sprites that animate Hornet’s different movements and attacks, to the logic behind the game’s most challenging boss fights – and of course, having the game playable in-gallery – our Silksong displays delve deeply into the details of the game's artistic direction and design. We’re so grateful to Team Cherry for trusting us with their work, and so excited to share that work with you!"
As part of the announcement, ACMI shared a sprite sheet from Silksong, showcasing some of the intricate design elements that will be on display. The image was provided to IGN with permission.
With the game set to be playable from September 18, fans are hopeful that a full release might precede this event, possibly even in August. The excitement around Hollow Knight: Silksong continues to build, especially after its brief appearance at Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct last month, which confirmed the 2025 release window and offered a fleeting glimpse of new gameplay.
Originally announced for Nintendo Switch and PC, with subsequent versions planned for Xbox (including Game Pass), PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, Silksong has been at the heart of numerous intriguing teases. Team Cherry started 2025 with a cryptic hint involving a chocolate cake recipe, sparking speculation among fans about an imminent re-reveal in April. As the anticipation grows, the playable demo at ACMI marks a significant milestone in the journey towards the full release of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
