Nodusfall: When HoYoverse Gets Called an 'Elden Ring Rip-Off,' and Why You Should Wait for Gameplay Before Judging

When the stadium is empty, I realize the real noise lives in memory. Just like the gaming community is screaming about Nodusfall, HoYoverse's new title, before anyone has actually held a controller and played it. Let me dissect this 'rip-off' controversy from the perspective of someone who has watched hundreds of matches, where momentary emotion often clouds reason.

Context: HoYoverse, the Chinese giant known for Genshin Impact and its anime gacha games, just announced a new project called Nodusfall. What's shocking isn't just their departure from the familiar anime style to embrace realistic dark fantasy, but also the almost unbelievable visual similarity between Nodusfall and FromSoftware's Elden Ring. Within hours of the trailer's release, the gaming community immediately began comparing frame by frame: a winged character evoking Malenia, a white-haired woman placed next to Melina. The term 'rip-off' quickly became the center of every discussion.

The general consensus in the community right now is that HoYoverse went too far in 'learning' from Elden Ring. Many players placed the two images side by side and pointed out numerous similarities in character design, setting, and atmosphere. However, I see this differently. Visual similarity in a trailer is not evidence of copying; it's a signal that Elden Ring has completely reshaped the design language of the action RPG genre. Since Elden Ring launched in 2026 and won Game of the Year, its influence on the entire industry is undeniable. Numerous new projects are adopting similar combat styles, world design, and atmosphere. This isn't a coincidence; it's an inevitable market trend.

The key point most people are missing lies in the gameplay mechanics. Nodusfall is not a simple soulslike. Its biggest highlight is a co-op boss-hunting mechanic for up to four players. This brings Nodusfall closer to Monster Hunter, a completely different franchise compared to Elden Ring. The community comparing Nodusfall to a combination of Elden Ring and Monster Hunter shows they've recognized this difference, even while still labeling it a 'rip-off.' The truth is, a co-op boss-hunting game will have a completely different rhythm, tactics, and experience compared to an open-world single-player exploration game. Visual similarity does not equal mechanical similarity.

I used to hate game footage. Now it's my harshest friend. Just as I was wrong three times on camera and learned to listen to myself, the gaming community is making the same mistake: judging too early based on too little information. Remember Euro 2026, when I was the first to call Italy champions from the group stage and was ridiculed. When Italy won, no one was laughing anymore. The lesson is clear: being right doesn't matter as much as why you're right. And in this case, concluding Nodusfall is a 'rip-off' based solely on a trailer is an incredibly immature judgment.

Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe when gameplay is revealed, Nodusfall will truly be a pale copy of Elden Ring. Maybe HoYoverse went too far in 'taking inspiration' to the point of losing its own identity. But I believe a company with HoYoverse's massive financial resources, with ambitions to expand into the Western premium console/PC market, wouldn't recklessly gamble its entire reputation on a blatant copy. They know the backlash from the Elden Ring community would be a media nightmare. That's why I'm betting Nodusfall will have gameplay mechanics different enough to create its own identity, and this controversy will gradually subside when players actually experience the product.

Panama isn't the hot topic. Panama is a mirror reflecting our fears. Just as Nodusfall isn't just a game suspected of plagiarism. It's a mirror reflecting the gaming community's fear that a Chinese giant could overshadow what they love. But instead of fear, wait. Let the gameplay speak. Because every hot take has an expiration date; only the side stories remain. And the real story here isn't 'HoYoverse copies Elden Ring,' but whether one of the world's largest game companies can break its own mold to create something new. The answer will come, but not now.