It's unclear when fans can expect more news about Team Cherry's Hollow Knight: Silksong. Originally an expansion for the 2017 indie hit, Silksong had so many new ideas that the South Australian dev team pivoted to a full sequel - which will still be offered to Hollow Knight's Kickstarter backers for free. The last fans heard from Team Cherry was a brief trailer at the June 2022 Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, which showed off more gameplay of protagonist Hornet using a unique set of abilities to explore the kingdom of Pharloom.
Going somewhere else in Silksong makes perfect sense after The Knight's thorough romp through the ruined kingdom of Hallownest, not least because it opens the door for a host of new characters that Hornet can battle or befriend. While Hornet's "fish out of water" story will be most effective if she has to carve out a place in Pharloom without any prior connections, there's room for traveling characters like Hollow Knight's Quirrel to have a cameo or two. One of the more interesting groups to reference would be the Grimm Troupe.
What is Hollow Knight's Grimm Troupe?
The Grimm Troupe was introduced via Hollow Knight's self-titled "The Grimm Troupe" DLC in October 2017, the second of four expansions following "Hidden Dreams" that August. After The Knight discovers an abandoned Nightmare Lantern in the Howling Cliffs, lighting its flame will cause an entire circus to spring up on the outskirts of Dirtmouth. Here, players can meet accordion-player Brumm, Charm matron Divine, and the Troupe's leader Grimm, who invites The Knight to participate in a mysterious ritual.
Through bits of conversation and documents, players learn the Grimm Troupe comes from the Nightmare Realm, traveling wherever they are summoned to perpetually extend the life of their master: the Nightmare's Heart. The Knight is provided a Charm that summons a short-term companion, the Grimmchild, who must consume three Nightmare Flames kept by acolyte enemies that spawn across Hallownest. Once the flames have been gathered and The Knight defeats Grimm in a test of strength, players can use the Dream Nail to enter the Nightmare Realm and face Nightmare King Grimm - a boss so imposing he gets the only full-screen title card other than the Radiance.
Defeating the Nightmare King allows his spirit to be reincarnated through the Grimmchild, continuing an endless cycle. However, the Grimm Troupe's circus disappears before The Knight wakes up from his battle, never to be seen again. There's also an alternate ending in which players talk to Brumm, who expresses exhaustion at the repetition of the ritual that has enslaved them. If The Knight follows his advice and destroys the original Nightmare Lanturn, the Grimm Troupe will disappear and a unique Carefree Melody Charm can be obtained through Nymm, who bears a close resemblance to Brumm.
Where The Grimm Troup Could Slot Into Hollow Knight: Silksong
Whether the Grimm Troupe is able to complete its ritual or is banished from Hallownest, acolytes of the Nightmare Realm aren't finished in Hollow Knight's universe. The Nightmare's Heart needs to endlessly replenish itself through this dark ritual, and it's implied that the Troupe's travel through dreams has led them all over; wherever and whenever a Nightmare Lantern is lit. One of Brumm's regrets is how the ritual "profanes this dark, quiet Kingdom" that he wishes could be left to rest in peace.
Given Hornet played no part in The Grimm Troupe DLC, she could find a new Nightmare Lantern hidden somewhere in Pharloom and have a unique interaction with this traveling circus. Perhaps Hollow Knight: Silksong could canonize Brumm's betrayal so that a new take on this same quest becomes more tense and dangerous - the Nightmare's Heart desperate to renew itself after losing its chance in Hallownest. Alternatively, there could be Easter eggs scattered about to suggest the Grimm Troupe visited Pharloom long ago, leaning on how far-reaching the Nightmare Realm's impact has been.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.