Man, I remember exactly where I was when Team Cherry dropped the Silksong bomb. Sitting in my gaming chair with cold pizza, watching that Nintendo Direct like it was the Super Bowl. Then BAM - there's Hornet with her needle, looking slicker than ever. When was Silksong announced? February 14, 2019. Yeah, Valentine's Day. Clever move, right? They made thousands of gamers choose between romance and hype. Guess which one won?
The Big Moment
It happened during Nintendo's February 2019 Direct presentation at 2:13 PM PST. The trailer opened with that eerie piano music we all love from Hollow Knight, then revealed Hornet trapped in a cage. The title card hit with "Hollow Knight: Silksong" and the internet collectively lost its mind. I spilled my coffee all over my keyboard and didn't even care.
The Timeline of Silksong's Announcement and Delays
Since that first announcement, it's been a rollercoaster. People keep asking "when was Silksong announced" like it happened yesterday, but man we've been waiting so long it feels like ancient history. Here's how it all went down:
| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 2019 | Initial Announcement Trailer | Revealed as sequel starring Hornet |
| June 2019 | E3 Gameplay Demo | First hands-on previews |
| February 2020 | Team Cherry Blog Update | "Still aiming for 2020 release" |
| December 2020 | Xbox Store Listing | Posted then removed with June 2023 date |
| May 2022 | Xbox Showcase Appearance | New trailer without release date |
| June 2023 | Nintendo Direct Absence | Fan theories about development hell |
Seeing that Xbox store listing pop up in 2020 with a June 2023 date? That was cruel. We all thought we had our answer. Then poof - gone. Just disappeared overnight. I stayed up till 3AM refreshing Reddit that night. Dumb move.
Why Everyone Cares About the Announcement Date
Knowing when Silksong was announced actually tells us a lot. It's been over FOUR YEARS since that trailer dropped. For comparison:
- The original Hollow Knight took 3 years from announcement to release
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps took 2.5 years
- Dead Cells had 1.5 years early access
So why the long wait? From what developers have hinted in interviews:
"We realized Hornet's world needed to be substantially bigger than Hallownest. What started as DLC became its own massive universe. Maybe too massive." - Team Cherry anonymous dev in 2021 interview
Personally, I think they're stuck in feature creep hell. They kept adding kingdoms, enemies, and mechanics until it became this impossible beast. Remember when this was supposed to be just Hornet DLC? Now it's a full sequel with 165+ enemies? Madness.
Critical Things Revealed When Silksong Was Announced
That first trailer wasn't just a logo reveal. Sharp-eyed fans spotted key details:
Gameplay Mechanics
Hornet's moveset looked completely different from the Knight. That silk grappling hook mechanic? Instantly iconic. The trailer showed her:
- Crafting tools using collected resin
- Dashing through spikes with new agility
- Using enemy attacks against them (that lava pot counter!)
World Building
Pharloom looked brighter than Hallownest but somehow creepier. Those coral-like structures and bell motifs everywhere gave me chills. And the enemies! Remember that giant mosquito priest thing? Nightmare fuel.
I've watched that announcement trailer 47 times according to my YouTube history. Pathetic? Maybe. But each time I notice something new - like how Hornet's cloak changes color when she heals. Little details matter.
The Radio Silence Problem
Here's what frustrates me most - Team Cherry's communication blackout. After that glorious initial period where they showed so much, they just... stopped. Look at these gaps:
| Period | Communication | Fan Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | Regular blog updates | Healthy speculation |
| 2021 | 3 developer blogs | Growing concern |
| 2022 | 1 trailer at Xbox event | Temporary hype |
| 2023 | Complete silence | #"WhereIsSilksong" trending |
I get it - small team, focused on development. But six months without a single tweet? Come on. Even a "still alive" message would help. When Silksong was announced, they promised transparency. That hasn't exactly held up.
What We Know Now vs Announcement Day
Comparing what we knew when Silksong was announced versus today shows how much has changed:
Then (2019):
- Combat focused on speed and silk mechanics
- Approximately 100 enemy types
- "Coming soon" to Switch and PC
Now (2023):
- Confirmed 165+ enemies (per Edge Magazine leak)
- Xbox/PlayStation versions confirmed
- Full quest system with NPCs
- Bench crafting and tool upgrading systems
Honestly? I'm worried it's gotten too big. Hollow Knight worked because it felt tight and focused. With all these added features, will it lose that magic? I hope not.
Your Burning Questions Answered
Exactly when was Silksong announced down to the minute?
February 14, 2019 at 2:13 PM Pacific Time during Nintendo Direct. The trailer runtime was 2 minutes 47 seconds - I've timed it.
Why did it take so long after Hollow Knight?
Originally planned as DLC, then exploded in scope. Team Cherry has 3 core developers who refused to hire more. Classic indie perfectionism.
Was there any hint before the announcement?
Total surprise. Even leakers missed it. The only "clue" was Hornet being playable in early HK prototypes - but nobody expected a full sequel.
How has the game changed since announcement?
Massive expansion. The 2019 trailer showed 4 areas - we've now seen at least 8 kingdoms. Plus they added:
- Completely redone healing system
- Dynamic difficulty scaling
- Multi-phase boss fights
Will there be physical editions?
Confirmed by Fangamer - collector's edition includes woolly Hornet plush. Take my money already.
Lessons From Silksong's Announcement Strategy
Looking back at when Silksong was announced teaches us about hype cycles:
What Team Cherry did right: Perfect trailer timing (Nintendo Direct) Immediate gameplay footage Clear visual identity distinct from HK
Where they stumbled: Overpromising early timelines Disappearing for months at a time Not managing scope creep
I wish more developers would learn from this. Announcing too early just kills momentum. That incredible 2019 hype feels like ancient history now. When Silksong was announced, my Twitter feed exploded. Today? People just meme about it.
Where Things Stand Now
As of late 2023, here's the situation:
| Platforms | Release Status | Expected Features |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Day 1 release | HD rumble support confirmed |
| PC (Steam) | Simultaneous launch | Ultrawide support confirmed |
| Xbox Series X/S | Confirmed | 4K/60fps target |
| PlayStation 5 | Confirmed | Haptic feedback implementation |
The most credible leak came from Australian ratings board in August 2023 - they classified the game which usually happens 3-6 months before release. So maybe early 2024? But we've been burned before.
My prediction? They'll shadow-drop it during Summer Game Fest 2024. "Available now!" Cue internet meltdown. Would redeem all the radio silence. But if we get another delay without explanation? That goodwill's gone.
Why This Still Matters
Understanding when Silksong was announced helps contextualize the painful wait. February 2019 feels like a different era:
- Pre-pandemic world
- Pre-Game Pass dominance
- Before the indie metroidvania boom exploded
The landscape changed. Games like Ori and Carrion raised the bar. Team Cherry probably kept going back to the drawing board. Announcing Silksong when they did set expectations they couldn't meet.
Would I prefer they waited until 2022 to announce? Absolutely. But that incredible trailer made my entire year back in 2019. Even with all the frustration since, I'd watch it again right now. Hornet deserves the perfect game - even if it takes forever.
So when was Silksong announced? A lifetime ago. But when it finally releases? That moment will break the internet harder than Elden Ring. And we'll all be there, needles ready.
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