Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo at Gamescom 2025 – A Shinier, Silkier Take on the Same Demo From E3 2019

The long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong demo made an appearance at Gamescom 2025, making its way to both the Xbox and Nintendo booths. Fans were buzzing with excitement, and the demo certainly doesn’t disappoint. Our own previewer described it as ‘a piece of playable art that is as fun to wield as it is to watch.’ However, some fans were hoping for new content, including fresh bosses, story elements, or gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, this year’s demo is essentially the same one presented back in E3 2019 – just shinier.

On closer inspection, it’s clear that the Gamescom demo closely mirrors the one from 2019. Both demos feature the same two areas: Moss Grotto (the early game zone) and Deep Docks (a later game area). The gameplay encounters and bosses are unchanged. We’ve cross-referenced footage from various sources, and it’s evident that this year’s version is essentially a visual upgrade.

That said, there’s no reason to panic. This update isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it’s a clear sign of how far Silksong has come over the years. The visuals, for example, have received noticeable improvements. Lighting has been enhanced, and the backgrounds have been adjusted for a more polished look. Some platforms have been shifted around for better flow, and fans have even spotted the tiniest dialogue tweak between the two demos. These subtle changes point to the ongoing refinement of the game as Team Cherry continues to perfect the experience.

It’s worth noting that while these two levels were likely nearing completion back in 2019, they weren’t fully finished at the time. Given that these areas were the closest to ‘done’ six years ago, there’s no surprise they didn’t undergo massive changes in the years following. Additionally, this is the first time we’re seeing the game on the upgraded Xbox Series consoles and the Nintendo Switch 2, while the original 2019 demo was restricted to the Nintendo Switch 1.

However, there is one downside: fans hoping to uncover new content, such as additional bosses, enemies, characters, or storylines, will likely be disappointed. This demo offers no fresh revelations about what to expect from Silksong upon its eventual release. But then again, we may not need to rely on sneaky game demos for clues for much longer. Team Cherry has teased an upcoming announcement, and after years of build-up and teasers, it’s starting to look like a release date for Silksong could be just around the corner. The wait might soon be over, and fans will finally be able to experience the long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight.