The excitement around today's Nintendo Direct was palpable for some gaming communities, like the Tomodachi Life fans, who were thrilled with the announcements. However, the Hollow Knight: Silksong community found themselves once again in a cycle of anticipation and disappointment as the showcase failed to deliver a new trailer for their long-awaited sequel. The fervor and frustration in the Silksong fanbase have been well-documented, with their subreddit and Discord channels buzzing with memes and "silkposts" that oscillate between hope and jest.
The community's rollercoaster of emotions isn't new. Last year, consecutive Nintendo Directs left them reeling, and earlier this year, a seemingly innocuous photo of chocolate cake sparked a frenzied search for an alternate reality game (ARG) that turned out to be a false alarm. It's difficult to discern from the outside whether the community's reactions are more about genuine disappointment or a shared sense of humor in the face of constant delays.
Next week's Nintendo Direct, however, carries a different weight. Hollow Knight's initial success on the Nintendo Switch has closely tied the franchise to Nintendo's ecosystem. With the upcoming showcase expected to highlight the Nintendo Switch 2 and possibly its launch titles, the stage seems set for a perfect reintroduction of Silksong. Amidst the expected lineup of first-party games, fans are clinging to the hope that Silksong's popularity and anticipation will secure it a spot in this monumental event, signaling that the game is finally ready for release.
Yet, the possibility of another letdown looms large. This wouldn't be the first time Silksong enthusiasts have had their hopes dashed. Recent hints, such as a mention in an Xbox Wire post and backend updates on the game's Steam listing, suggest that an announcement might be imminent. However, the community has been down this road before, getting excited over listings and delistings on various platforms that led nowhere.
The only concrete assurance comes from Team Cherry's marketing and publishing chief, Matthew 'Leth' Griffin, who confirmed in January that "Yes, the game is real, progressing, and will release." Until then, all the Silksong community can do is wait and dream of a world where they can finally play the game they've been eagerly anticipating.
As the next Nintendo Direct approaches on April 2nd, fans are once again donning their metaphorical clown makeup, ready for whatever may come.