June 22, 2025 – The agonizing wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong took another bewildering turn this weekend, leaving fans swinging between cautious optimism and familiar frustration. Hopes for a surprise summer release tied to a rumored new Xbox handheld device were firmly quashed by the developers, only adding another layer of confusion to the game's perpetually elusive launch window.
The rollercoaster began when tech outlet GSMGoTech reported on Microsoft's aggressive push into the handheld gaming market. Citing unnamed sources, they detailed plans for an "ROG Xbox Ally X," a collaboration with Asus, potentially launching this summer:
Microsoft Reportedly Throws Down Handheld Gauntlet with ROG Xbox Ally X
Details Emerge on Xbox's ROG Ally X Handheld Contender
Almost immediately, speculation exploded within the desperate Silksong community. With Xbox Game Studios acting as publisher, and the game confirmed for day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass, many fans connected the dots: Could the long-awaited sequel finally arrive as a flagship title alongside this new summer handheld? The idea gained traction, fueled by years of silence and missed release targets. Visions of playing as Hornet on a sleek new device danced in players' heads.
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Fan speculation quickly linked the rumored ROG Xbox Ally X summer launch to Silksong (Image: Facebook)
Simultaneously, GSMGoTech stoked the fires with another report bluntly titled "Hollow Knight: Silksong Ghosted Again?", highlighting the community's anxiety and the conspicuous lack of concrete news.
Developer Steps In, Cuts One Rumor, Keeps Vagueness Alive
Faced with mounting speculation threatening to solidify into assumed fact, developers Team Cherry (via their publisher, Xbox) finally broke their characteristic silence. In a statement to IGN, they directly addressed the handheld rumor:
Team Cherry Responds: Silksong Not Tied to Xbox Handheld, Still Coming "Before Holiday"
The message was clear in one aspect: "We're still working on the game, but we're not tied to any particular hardware launch window." They explicitly stated that Silksong's release is not contingent on or scheduled around the launch of any new Xbox handheld device, rumored or otherwise. This definitively dashed the summer hopes tied to the ROG Ally X.
However, the statement maintained the now-infamous, frustratingly vague promise: Hollow Knight: Silksong is still targeting a release "before the end of Holiday 2025."
Community Reaction: Relief Mixed With Resignation
The developer clarification has elicited mixed reactions. Many appreciate the direct debunking of the handheld rumor, preventing further disappointment based on false premises. "Glad they finally killed that summer handheld theory," commented Reddit user MossKnight87. "At least we know that specific dream is dead."
Yet, the reaffirmation of the "before Holiday 2025" window offers little concrete solace. "Before Holiday" could theoretically mean anytime between now and late December. After years of delays since the initial announcement and multiple missed targets (including the previous "within 12 months" promise made over a year ago), trust within the fanbase is understandably fragile.
"So, 'Before Holiday' it is. Again. Guess I'll see you all in December... maybe," tweeted a weary fan account.
The Wait Continues
While the immediate firestorm around a summer handheld launch has been extinguished, the core issue remains unresolved. Hollow Knight: Silksong still lacks a firm release date. The "before Holiday 2025" window provides a larger target, but for a community worn down by anticipation, it feels like another exercise in waiting and hoping.
The only certainty is that Team Cherry is still working on the game, and it is expected this year. But after this latest episode of intense speculation followed by a partial, vague clarification, the path to release feels no less confusing or fraught for the legions of fans eagerly awaiting Hornet's journey into Pharloom. The next rumor mill is undoubtedly already starting to churn.
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