The gaming world eagerly anticipates the arrival of Hollow Knight: Silksong. Its Steam page boasts the highest number of wishlists. Attending any recent digital gaming event means encountering a barrage of online comments asking, “Silksong update?”, “Where is Silksong?”, “Silksong release date?”. The window for a pre-2026 launch is closing, fueling speculation about a surprise announcement or even a sudden, unannounced release. With Gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live fast approaching, could this be the long-awaited moment of truth? Geoff Keighley, the show’s host, seems to be hinting at something.
Keighley, a prominent figure in gaming hype, has been posting images related to Gamescom ONL preparations, including one of him wearing a clown nose in front of a mirror. This gesture is widely interpreted as a nod to the Silksong fan community’s “clown makeup” meme, symbolizing their repeated disappointment. The meme originated when Team Cherry, the game’s developer, remained largely silent, but gained further traction after Xbox suggested a 2022 release, which never materialized. Numerous gaming showcases have since passed with only fleeting glimpses of the acclaimed Metroidvania-Soulslike game.
First time? 🤡
See you tomorrow for @gamescom ONL. pic.twitter.com/59ef5sFysJ
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) August 18, 2025
Keighley’s actions suggest either imminent Silksong news or a carefully orchestrated setup for another wave of disappointment. Given that the game will be available to play at various booths during Gamescom, a positive announcement seems more likely. It’s slated for release on Nintendo Switch and has also been confirmed for a day-one launch on the Xbox Ally PC gaming handheld, expected to launch in October. Furthermore, the game’s soundtrack has been recently added to the GOG backend, further fueling speculation.
The Gamescom ONL showcase, hosted by Keighley, is scheduled for August 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET. The main event, preceded by a pre-show at 1:30 p.m. ET, will run for approximately two hours. The event typically features new game announcements alongside trailers and updates on previously revealed titles slated for release in the coming months, often accompanied by brief appearances from the developers. This year’s Gamescom ONL will also feature a live orchestral performance from the hit title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and a sneak peek at the upcoming Fallout season 2.
Gamescom ONL: What Titles to Expect?
Apart from the rumored Silksong reveal, Keighley has already confirmed the presence of the following nine games:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Resident Evil Requiem
- Ghost of Yotei
- Ninja Gaiden 4
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Silent Hill f
- World of Warcraft: Midnight
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Lords of the Fallen 2
Black Ops 7 is anticipated to showcase its refreshed multiplayer mode, while Black Myth: Wukong, set to arrive on Xbox soon, may unveil its heavily speculated DLC expansion. With BlizzCon absent this year, Microsoft is expected to use ONL to unveil the next World of Warcraft expansion. However, a console port for the massively popular MMO would be an even bigger announcement. Will there be any news on Diablo 4‘s rumored Paladin class addition, speculated to be included in its next expansion? The Outer Worlds 2 also is a big fall release for Microsoft, and given the scarcity of updates on their other major projects at their Xbox showcase in June, the event could hold surprise announcements for many other major titles.
Ubisoft has been relatively quiet this year. Faced with significant delays and internal restructuring, the French publisher opted to skip its usual Summer Game Fest presentation. With the next installments of Far Cry, Ghost Recon, and the Splinter Cell remake all in development, Gamescom could offer a sneak peek at any of them. The developers behind The Division 2 have already teased news regarding the looter-shooter’s upcoming winter update. Perhaps Gamescom 2025 will be where we finally see the return of Beyond Good and Evil 2!