Silksong’s Hidden Hardcore Mode: The Konami-Style Code That Unlocks Permadeath on Day One

Silksong’s Hardcore Mode Is Hiding in Plain Sight – And That’s the Point

Think Hollow Knight: Silksong is already savage? Team Cherry quietly stashed a Konami-style input on the title screen that unlocks Steel Soul – the game’s permadeath mode – from minute one. Enter “Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right” in the Extras menu and you’ll flip the switch. No second chances. No “oops.” When you die, your save file is gone. As someone who still winces remembering Steel Soul runs in the first game, this caught my attention because it rewrites the typical progression arc: extreme challenge isn’t a victory lap anymore, it’s a dare at the starting line.

Key Takeaways

• Team Cherry added a title-screen input to unlock Steel Soul (permadeath) immediately: “Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right.”
• It’s a wink to the Konami Code, but tweaked — no “Up, Up” opener or button presses — and it unlocks harder play, not freebies.
• Unlike the first game, you don’t need a standard clear to access Steel Soul, which accelerates challenge runs and streaming content.
• Multiple save slots mean you can keep a normal run and a Steel Soul run side by side without nuking your progress.

Breaking Down the Code (and Why It’s Clever)

Hollow Knight veterans know Steel Soul as the “no mistakes allowed” variant: die once, lose the entire file. In the original, that mode was a reward for beating the main game — a clean way to preserve pacing and onboarding. Silksong flips that: the hardest setting is now opt-in, up front, via a nostalgic cheat input. It’s a fun subversion. The classic Konami Code was designed to make tough games easier; here, a similar rhythm makes a hard game even harsher. The nod lands, especially for players who grew up keying in secret sequences on the title screen.

Practically speaking, the code lives in the Extras menu on the title screen, which keeps it out of the way of new players while remaining discoverable for the curious. It’s the right kind of secret — harmless if you ignore it, instantly galvanizing if you’re the type who treats “You Died” screens like a challenge poster.

Why This Matters Now

Silksong is roaring out of the gate, with reported concurrent peaks around 587,000 on Steam — the kind of launch surge that fuels streaming and community challenges for weeks. Dropping a permadeath unlock code on day one is a content accelerant. Speedrunners don’t have to grind a vanilla clear before routing Steel Soul; creators can kick off “ironman” marathons immediately; and community events can mix difficulty brackets from the start. This is Team Cherry understanding how modern launch windows work: give the hardcore something spicy without touching the baseline experience.

It’s also smart brand stewardship. Part of why Hollow Knight blew up was its culture of secrets — layered routes, tucked-away charms, and that “did you know you can…?” energy. Hiding a difficulty switch behind an old-school input keeps that DNA intact without resorting to cheap FOMO cosmetics or battle passes. It’s a wink, not a cash grab.

The Gamer’s Perspective: Should You Use It?

Short answer: only if you crave pressure. Silksong is already demanding in standard play — tight combat windows, resource management, and exploration that punishes sloppy routing. In Steel Soul, that one reckless dive or greedy heal ends the entire run. If you haven’t internalized boss patterns or map flow yet, you’ll turn the early game into a frustration loop.

If you’re tempted, a few practical notes:

• Use a separate save slot. Silksong supports multiple files, so keep your “learning” run intact.
• Play information-first. Scout bosses and dangerous biomes in a normal file; then commit on Steel Soul.
• Route conservatively. Treat upgrades and safe benches as milestones, not pit stops. Overconfidence is the real final boss.
• Set personal goals. First-area deathless clears, then midgame objectives, then full runs. Steel Soul is a marathon of restraint.

For veterans, this unlock is a gift. In the original, I loved the moment Steel Soul transformed familiar zones into anxiety machines — even minor mobs felt lethal. Silksong doubling down on that sensation from the start is going to produce some incredible community stories… and some brutal highlight reels.

Context: The Konami Code Twist

Yes, it’s “the Konami Code,” but with a playful remix. The classic sequence — “Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A” — was first popularized by Gradius and made iconic by Contra. Silksong’s version pares it down to “Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right,” skipping the button taps and the opening double “Up.” That’s intentional: a familiar rhythm without being a one-to-one copy, and it fits a game that thrives on homage rather than imitation.

Looking Ahead

Expect Steel Soul leaderboards, community races, and day-one “no-hit” attempts to flood your feeds. More importantly, this sets a cooperative tone between Team Cherry and its most dedicated players: the studio trusts you to set your own pain threshold. In an era where difficulty debates spiral into culture wars, an optional hardcore toggle hidden behind a cheeky code is refreshingly player-first.

TL;DR

Enter “Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right” in Silksong’s Extras menu to unlock Steel Soul permadeath immediately. It’s a smart, Konami-style nod that fuels challenge runs without touching the standard experience. If you’re new, stick to normal; if you’re hungry for pain, this is your buffet.