Nodusfall Under the Court of Public Opinion: A Copy of Elden Ring or HoYoverse's Strategic Pivot?

When HoYoverse released the first Nodusfall trailer, the community's reaction was faster than page loading times. A charred-winged character immediately made players think of Malenia, the feared nightmare in Elden Ring. A white-haired woman with a distant gaze was placed next to Melina, FromSoftware's mysterious companion. On forums, the word "rip-off" was used as a verdict. But before trusting a number, ask where it was born. Where do these accusations come from? From a few static frames of a trailer, or from a whole game that hasn't been unveiled?

HoYoverse, the Chinese company behind Genshin Impact and the Honkai series, built its reputation on anime aesthetics and the gacha model. This shift to realistic dark fantasy centered on cooperative boss hunting is an ambitious U-turn. Elden Ring, released in 2026, not only won Game of the Year but also redefined the open-world action RPG genre. Its influence is so massive that many new projects deliberately adopt similar combat styles, world design, and atmosphere. Nodusfall becomes the latest name on the list of "victims" compared to FromSoftware's masterpiece. But the key point is: we are evaluating a game based on its outer garment, while the core element — actual gameplay — remains a complete unknown. All data-driven analysis currently can only rely on silence: not a single second of gameplay has been revealed.

What makes this story compelling is not just the copying accusation, but the industry-wide chain reaction. An in-depth analysis of game mechanics reveals that the current accusations, based on visual surface, will collapse the moment HoYoverse shows real gameplay, because Nodusfall features cooperative boss hunting for up to four players – a vital differentiator from the solo experience of Elden Ring. From my experience observing multiple games across announcement cycles, I've noticed similar controversies have two stages: the first driven by trailer emotions, and the second decided by real gameplay. Nodusfall is in the first stage, where the community has only seen characters designed to evoke familiar archetypes.

If HoYoverse executes the co-op mechanic well, the game could sit closer to Monster Hunter than Elden Ring in terms of feel. This unintentionally makes "Elden Ring meets Monster Hunter" the most useful lens to assess Nodusfall, rather than calling it a shameless clone. The mechanical difference can shatter initial prejudice. Tactically, four-player teamwork demands coordination, role distribution, health management, and timing of attacks — a completely different system from soloing a boss. This is not a copy, but a different approach to the soulslike genre. Historically, many games suspected of ripoffs during trailer reveals have "flipped the script" when actual gameplay was shown. Data doesn't scream; it whispers — and I've learned to lean in. Nodusfall's whisper cannot yet be heard, because there is nothing to hear.

And the legal side? The "rip-off" accusation currently stops at a segment of the community's opinion, with no official action from FromSoftware or Bandai Namco. Under copyright law, game mechanics, dark fantasy settings, and the soulslike genre are generally not protected. What can violate are specific expressive elements like character designs, art assets, or names. A winged character "reminiscent" of Malenia does not mean direct copying; the black-winged warrior archetype exists across multiple cultures. The Seoul night of 2026 taught me that truth can be lonely, but it is never wrong. In 2026, after South Korea beat Germany, every statistic stood against the home team, but the victory was still a victory. My prediction of a low win probability wasn't methodologically wrong, but it lacked empathy for what happened on the pitch. Similarly, without gameplay, there is insufficient data to convict. The community is entering a battle with no solid evidence.

Commercially, HoYoverse is making a huge bet. The company has strong financial resources—Genshin Impact alone generates billions annually—but entering the premium PC/console action RPG segment is far from cheap. Producing a realistic-graphics game costs much more than anime-style titles, as existing assets cannot be reused. The risk is not just financial but also reputational: if the "clone" narrative sticks, pre-order sales in the Western market—where Elden Ring fans are passionate—could suffer. However, the controversy itself generates massive free publicity. If HoYoverse proves its own identity, current criticism can become a springboard for attention. From an analyst's shoes, I see two scenarios: one where Nodusfall launches with differentiated gameplay, turning "rip-off" into "misunderstood"; the other where gameplay is mediocre, confirming every suspicion. The second scenario is far more dangerous because the "second wave" at release could devastate the company's credibility. The lesson from the 2026 World Cup with Saudi Arabia taught me that small probabilities can happen, but they must be based on data—and here, data indicates Nodusfall has a chance, not a verdict.

From a regional perspective, the controversy carries a Sino-Japanese rivalry flavor. HoYoverse is the pride of the Chinese gaming industry with superior financial power, while FromSoftware represents the peak of Japanese design. Plagiarism accusations against Chinese developers are nothing new, and this often amplifies community reactions. But as I've said, every conclusion must be verified with data, not prejudice. Viewing Nodusfall through the lens of "China's Malenia" may be an insult to HoYoverse's talented designers, who haven't had a chance to prove themselves.

Although this is not an esports title, Nodusfall's success could shape the future of competitive soulslike. If co-op boss hunting creates a competitive platform through speedruns or scoring, it might open a new path. Nodusfall, right now, remains an absolute mystery. Everything could change at the next gameplay reveal. If they show four players coordinating to take down a colossal boss, the Elden Ring comparison will naturally fade. If they only show lone battles, the storm is just beginning. The gaming community needs to learn patience with data, and not turn a trailer into an indictment. We love games for what goes beyond numbers—and we should also rely on numbers when needing clarity.