Nodusfall – A 'Rip-off' of Elden Ring or HoYoverse's Strategic Move?

When the first trailer of Nodusfall appeared, the gaming community immediately split into two camps. One side pointed out similarities with Elden Ring so striking that they called it a 'rip-off.' The other argued that dark fantasy and soulslike are not elements FromSoftware can monopolize. But this controversy, viewed from a data and industry strategy perspective, is missing a far more important question: why would a giant like HoYoverse accept the risk of leaving its comfort zone? HoYoverse, the company behind Genshin Impact and the Honkai series, has never been known for Western-style open-world action RPGs. Their brand is tied to anime aesthetics, gacha systems, and distinctly Asian storytelling. The announcement of Nodusfall – a dark fantasy game with realistic graphics, completely abandoning the familiar anime style – is a shock in terms of brand positioning. Moreover, the announced gameplay highlight is co-op boss hunting with up to four players, a mechanic that evokes Monster Hunter more than Elden Ring. Data from major gaming forums shows that 80% of negative comments focus on character design and setting, not on combat mechanics. This is a significant signal. When players compare a winged character to Malenia, or a white-haired woman to Melina, they are reacting to visual language – something that leaves a strong impression in a two-minute trailer. But looking at game development history, studios borrowing visual language from a monument like Elden Ring is almost inevitable. The question is: where is the line between 'taking inspiration' and 'copying'? From a legal perspective, gameplay mechanics are not copyrightable. Elements like challenging combat, dark fantasy worlds, or soulslike boss design are common genre language. What could be considered infringement is specific artistic property – character designs, names, or direct graphic assets. In this case, the described similarities are at the 'evocative' level, not direct copying. A winged character is not Malenia, a white-haired woman is not Melina – they exist within the same archetype zone that dark fantasy has built over two decades. However, the real risk lies not in court but in community psychology. When a game is labeled 'copycat' from its early stage, that label tends to stick and influence purchasing decisions of mainstream players. This is why HoYoverse's response over the next six months will determine Nodusfall's fate. If they remain silent and only release more visually-focused trailers, the 'rip-off' narrative will be reinforced. Conversely, if they quickly showcase actual gameplay with the four-player co-op boss hunting mechanic – something Elden Ring does not have – the narrative could shift from 'copying Elden Ring' to 'Elden Ring meets Monster Hunter.' Looking at the bigger picture, HoYoverse's decision is not impulsive. The company holds financial resources far exceeding most Japanese studios, and they have proven their ability to operate long-term live-service games on a global scale. Investing in a premium console/PC game with realistic graphics is a calculated gamble: if successful, they open an entirely new market segment, escaping the stereotype of 'only making anime gacha games.' If it fails, they still have enough resources to absorb the shock. But reputational damage – if branded a 'copycat studio' – would last far longer than a mere commercial failure. I have been following the rise of Chinese studios in the premium gaming segment for three years. From Black Myth: Wukong to unannounced projects, the trend is clear: Chinese companies are shifting from competing on scale to competing on artistic quality. Nodusfall is a critical test for this trend. If HoYoverse succeeds in proving its own identity – not just through co-op mechanics but also through storytelling, world design, and combat system – then the current controversy will be just a footnote in their success story. Variance is not the enemy – it is a mirror reflecting the arrogance of prediction. The community is predicting Nodusfall will be a copy based on two minutes of trailer. Current data is insufficient to claim otherwise, but equally insufficient to convict. In the gaming industry, one season is a statistical sample; a decade is evidence. And for Nodusfall, the only evidence that matters will come when the game is fully revealed. The final question is not 'Does Nodusfall copy Elden Ring or not.' The more pertinent question is: does HoYoverse have the courage to show the world they can make something completely different, or will they continue to hide behind existing monuments? The first trailer opened the debate. But the actual game – with its gameplay, mechanics, and its own world – is the final answer. Data does not lie, but it learns to hide the most important thing. And the most important thing here is: we still haven't seen what Nodusfall actually plays like.