Nodusfall: HoYoverse's New Masterpiece or Just an Elden Ring Clone?

There was a time when the gaming community believed a 90-second trailer was enough to judge an entire game. Nodusfall – the latest action RPG from HoYoverse – is becoming the center of the most intense controversy in the gaming industry this year, based only on the first few static images revealed. A winged character instantly reminds players of Malenia, a white-haired woman is directly compared to Melina. The community quickly labeled Nodusfall a "rip-off of Elden Ring" – a heavy accusation for any game, especially from a giant like HoYoverse. The situation began with HoYoverse's official announcement of abandoning its signature anime style to shift toward dark fantasy with realistic graphics. This is a strategic shock: a company that built a billion-dollar empire from Genshin Impact and the Honkai series – known for anime aesthetics and gacha mechanics – suddenly pivoting to a completely unfamiliar genre. Nodusfall is not just visually different; it also introduces a co-op boss-hunting mechanic for up to four players – a differentiator many believe positions the game closer to Monster Hunter than to Elden Ring. The current "copycat" controversy is based solely on visual comparisons from the trailer, while the entire actual gameplay remains unrevealed. The community is split into two camps: one believes HoYoverse crossed the line in "taking inspiration," while the other argues that dark fantasy and soulslike are not elements FromSoftware can monopolize. Data on the four-player co-op boss mechanic suggests Nodusfall may feature gameplay completely different from Elden Ring – a mechanical difference that superficial visual similarities cannot fully reflect. From a legal perspective, game mechanics are generally not copyrightable; only specific expressive elements such as character designs and art assets can be considered infringing. The described similarities – a winged character evoking Malenia, a white-haired woman compared to Melina – are more archetypal and thematic than direct copies. Legal risk is low, but reputational risk is real. In the court of public opinion, the line between "inspired by" and "ripped off" is decided by community sentiment, not legal standards. Interestingly, it was the community itself that offered the most valuable assessment: they described Nodusfall as a combination of Elden Ring and Monster Hunter. This comparison shows that even while accusing the game of copying, players still recognize its co-op mechanical difference. That punch years ago taught me to listen to women's voices before looking at the data sheet – and here, the same lesson applies: don't judge a game by a few static images. HoYoverse's financial resources far exceed FromSoftware's, allowing the company to afford talent acquisition, design iteration, and polishing Nodusfall to a high standard. Capital advantage may partially offset the design-pedigree gap. But the biggest question remains: can a studio known for anime-style gacha execute a genre it has never attempted? This is a test of organizational capability, not just financial muscle. The transfer window is where people pay 100 million for a promise and call it faith – but in the gaming industry, faith is built on gameplay, not trailers. Nodusfall needs a real gameplay reveal to prove its own identity. If the four-player co-op mechanic is well-executed, the narrative will shift from "clone" to "innovative variant." Conversely, if the gameplay launches feeling no different from Elden Ring, the backlash will be far more severe because the community will feel their initial accusations were validated. An empty stadium doesn't make the away team stronger; it just unmasks the home team – and a trailer doesn't make a game a copy; it only exposes the viewer's biases. People laugh at my predictions, but no one laughs at how I recount every number – and here, the only number that matters is how many players are in one boss-hunting session: four. Four players, one target, countless coordination possibilities. That could be the answer to every accusation – or proof that HoYoverse is just recounting someone else's numbers.