Nodusfall and the Elden Ring Trip: When the Games Industry Looks at Itself Through the “Rip-off” Lens

"Look, another Elden Ring clone!" — that comment appeared thousands of times within 24 hours after HoYoverse released the first trailer of Nodusfall. I am no stranger to the crowd rushing at a new product with a magnifying glass called "comparison." But from the corner where I usually stand when reporting, I saw something else: a game no one has touched yet, a trailer showing only a few frames, and a community ready to convict before the tape even ends.

After years as a sports journalist — from track and field, World Cup pitches, to now esports and gaming — I learned one lesson: never judge an athlete by their jersey. Likewise, do not rush to judge a game by a few frames. But the gaming community does not have that patience. And Nodusfall, HoYoverse's new action RPG, is paying the price for the very expectations it created.

Context: HoYoverse leaves its comfort zone

HoYoverse, the company behind blockbusters like Genshin Impact and the Honkai series, has never been known for realistic dark-fantasy role-playing games. Their brand is tied to anime aesthetics, gacha mechanics, and bright worlds. So when Nodusfall was announced with realistic graphics, a dark setting, and cooperative boss hunting, the whole industry took notice. This is not just a new product; it is a major strategic shift, taking HoYoverse out of its comfort zone to compete directly in the premium console/PC segment — where FromSoftware, author of Elden Ring, reigns.

Elden Ring launched in 2026 and quickly became a milestone for the industry. It not only won Game of the Year but also established a shared design language: vast open worlds, punishing combat, hidden lore, and mysterious atmosphere. Elden Ring's influence is undeniable — many new projects have since adopted similar combat styles, world design, and tone. Nodusfall, whether it likes it or not, is entering a field Elden Ring has just mown. Only a few evocative images, and the "rip-off" flame ignites.

Core: When numbers have no voice

People say Nodusfall has too many similarities to Elden Ring. Some comments point out that a winged character reminds them of Malenia, while a white-haired woman is compared to Melina. The community places images side by side and uses the word "rip-off." But the key point few notice: all we have now is a teaser trailer, not complete gameplay. I watched the footage of the 2026 World Cup semi-final between France and Belgium three times before writing, because I know momentary emotions can deceive any analysis. Here, the community has watched a trailer only once before handing Nodusfall a verdict.

The real foundation of Nodusfall is its cooperative boss-hunting mechanic for up to four players. This is a major difference from Elden Ring — a game primarily played solo, despite some online elements. If Nodusfall truly focuses on co-op, it could be closer to Monster Hunter than Elden Ring. The feel would be completely different: instead of struggling alone, you coordinate with teammates, divide roles, and chain combos. Yet the debate is only about appearance. It is like judging a player by the color of his shirt before he has touched the ball.

Of course, suspicion has its reasons. HoYoverse has never made a dark-fantasy game, and their choice of realistic style after Elden Ring's massive success makes many believe they are surfing a wave. But looking at the industry, it is easy to see a trend: major developers are looking for ways to differentiate within an increasingly crowded genre. Nodusfall chooses co-op as its weapon. If this is realized well, the "rip-off" story will quickly be replaced by another: "Elden Ring meets Monster Hunter."

From a tactical perspective — which I usually view through a sports lens — a strong team does not just copy the opponent's formation. They find weaknesses, exploit space, and create their own style. HoYoverse is doing the same. They are not just copying; they are entering a game whose rules were shaped by FromSoftware, but with a squad built in their own way. The question is whether they dare to show that in future reveals.

Regional map: China vs Japan, the race to the top

It is undeniable that this controversy has a regional nuance. HoYoverse is the largest game company in China; FromSoftware is a legendary Japanese studio. Global gaming communities are used to Chinese developers being suspected of copying Western and Japanese brands. Nodusfall has become the center of an old story dressed in new clothes.

Looking at financial resources, HoYoverse far surpasses FromSoftware. Revenue from Genshin Impact and other gacha titles has made them one of the world's most profitable game companies. They can afford artist teams, engine engineers, design specialists — something many Japanese studios cannot easily match. But when it comes to "design sophistication," FromSoftware is still ahead. They did not create a formula; they created a school. Nodusfall will be judged by whether HoYoverse used money to buy creativity, or just to buy a facade.

In sports, I have seen many wealthy teams fail because they thought money can buy titles. I have also seen average teams beat giants through smart tactics and teamwork. HoYoverse faces a similar problem: can they turn resources into a game with a soul, or just a refined copy?

Business and risk: The scar called "rip-off"

From a business standpoint, this is a huge bet. Developing a realistic dark-fantasy game, with a new engine, complex character art, and higher production costs, is certainly more expensive than typical anime games. HoYoverse is staking reputation and finance on a genre they have never conquered. If Nodusfall succeeds, they open a door to the premium console/PC market with large profit margins. If it fails, they learn an expensive lesson about leaving what they are best at.

Reputation is the scariest thing in the games industry. A "copycat" label can stick to HoYoverse for years, affecting even future products. Communities have boycotted many games because they were considered clones, even when quality was actually not bad. HoYoverse must be very careful. They need to release actual gameplay footage soon, showing that Nodusfall is more than a pretty clone.

Legal risk may be low. Copyright law usually does not protect game mechanics — no one can monopolize the soulslike genre or dark-fantasy atmosphere. The only things that can be sued are specific expressions: character designs, art assets, names. The similarities the community points out, like a winged character resembling Malenia or a white-haired woman similar to Melina, are still more "archetype" than direct copy. A lawsuit by FromSoftware or Bandai Namco is unlikely. But the court of public opinion uses a different law — the law of first impressions. Once the public sees similarity, explaining becomes extremely difficult.

Contrarian angle: Every accusation has two sides

I want to dig up a hidden corner that almost nobody mentions. Many of those who criticize Nodusfall may not actually hate HoYoverse because they love originality. Many of them already had negative feelings toward HoYoverse — because of gacha, anime style, or market dominance. The Elden Ring debate is just an excuse to express accumulated dissatisfaction. In sports, we see the same: a fan who hates a team will find every reason to criticize, no matter how well that team plays.

The community is also committing a serious logical error: taking an unreleased game, comparing it with a historically great game, and concluding the first is a cheap copy. Imagine a young athlete debuting on the same track as Usain Bolt, then being mocked just because of a similar warm-up move. We have ignored the possibility that Nodusfall could deliver a completely different experience thanks to co-op.

There is a truth nobody discusses: controversy is free publicity. Nodusfall has been talked about across forums, news sites, and YouTube channels after just one night. If the game eventually launches with good quality, today's criticism becomes motivation for curious people to try it. HoYoverse can turn the storm of criticism into marketing momentum — but only if they dare to face it directly and prove themselves through gameplay.

Journey: Patience is the only medicine

In every sport, the moment people recognize talent often comes after much doubt. Young players are criticized as weak, unfit for big leagues. Then one day they shine, and all criticism fades. Nodusfall is exactly in that stage — the stage of being underestimated, harshly compared, before having a chance to prove its worth.

I always remember an image from the 2026 World Cup. After the France-Belgium semi-final, people only talked about goals, Deschamps' tactics, Mbappe's brilliance. I sat watching the replay for hours, looking for what everyone missed: how Belgium pressed by "psychological zones," blocking the opponent's line of sight before blocking the passing lane. At that moment, I realized what appears on screen is never the whole truth. The same goes for Nodusfall — the trailer is not the whole game. We need to see gameplay, feel character control, sense the rhythm of combat.

I misspelled Mbappe's name three times live, but football has never been wrong about kindness. The games industry is the same. Instead of rushing to judge, we should give Nodusfall a chance to speak. Let the tape speak. Let actual gameplay appear before we decide.

Tactical blind spot and conclusion

The biggest blind spot in this debate is the lack of patience. The community is stuck in a sprint while the game is still on a long journey. It is like looking at a photo of a player running and deciding whether his stride is correct without seeing the whole video. Nodusfall needs time to reveal what makes its identity.

This story is not just about Nodusfall and Elden Ring. It is about how we face novelty in a fast-moving industry. It is about the fears of loyal fans, about suspicion toward emerging giants. But above all, it reminds us: everything must be judged on the whole journey, not by a single cut.

Track and field and football pitch are not far apart, but few people run the full circle to see. Video games are the same. Let Nodusfall run its full race before naming the winner. For me, what matters is not whether the game looks like Elden Ring, but whether it stands on its own feet. That boy's tears belong to the journey, not to defeat. And Nodusfall, whether it succeeds or fails, will always be remembered as a courageous attempt to step out of the comfort zone.