Nodusfall, HoYoverse's risky 'out-of-comfort-zone' bet and the storm of Elden Ring copy accusations

HoYoverse has just revealed Nodusfall with a first trailer. Unlike its previous works, Nodusfall marks a major turning point as the company abandons its signature anime style to enter the dark fantasy genre with semi-realistic visuals and co-op gameplay focused on boss hunting. Within hours, the global gaming community split into two factions: one accuses Nodusfall of 'ripping off' Elden Ring; the other argues that borrowing from Elden Ring is normal in a market where soulslike titles dominate. The first visuals of Nodusfall immediately triggered comparisons with Elden Ring across forums, social media, and YouTube. Players pointed to a winged character reminiscent of Malenia, a white-haired woman evoking Melina, and architecture and lighting that seem to touch FromSoftware fans' comfort zone. The term 'rip-off' appeared as side-by-side images circulated. However, all accusations are based on static trailer images—no real gameplay footage has been released yet. Contextually, Elden Ring’s influence is undeniable. FromSoftware’s 2026 title, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, won Game of the Year and redefined open-world action RPG standards. Since then, many projects have adopted similar combat systems, world-building principles, and grim atmospheres to appeal to the same audience. Thus, Nodusfall being compared to Elden Ring is understandable. Yet Nodusfall has one major design difference: four-player cooperative boss hunting. This element could bring it closer to Monster Hunter than Elden Ring in actual play feel. In Elden Ring, players mostly explore an open world alone and only meet through summoning mechanics. If Nodusfall truly builds its core loop around four-player coordination, that is a genuine mechanical distinction, not something visual similarity can erase. This raises the central question: is the community rushing to judgment? Looking at gaming history, great titles rarely emerge from a vacuum. From Dark Souls to Elden Ring, from Monster Hunter to many indie games, borrowing and iterating on predecessors is part of the creative process. The issue is not whether similarities exist, but how they are transformed into a unique identity. Having watched similar debates for years, I can attest that the initial wave of outrage is often amplified by a vocal minority holding preconceptions about the publisher. In HoYoverse’s case, this bias is stronger because the company achieved massive success with anime-style gacha games like Genshin Impact and the Honkai series. Seeing a gacha powerhouse suddenly pivot to premium dark fantasy makes people question their real capabilities—and that fertile ground allows 'copycat' accusations to spread. From a business standpoint, this is HoYoverse's strategic gamble. Nodusfall is not just a new game; it is a statement of intent to conquer the Western console/PC market—where Elden Ring proved the soulslike genre's enormous appeal. HoYoverse is wagering its massive financial resources on a genre it has never attempted. This move can diversify revenue streams, but it also risks brand dilution if the product fails. Legally, the 'rip-off' accusation remains only a community opinion. Under copyright law, gameplay mechanics—such as combat systems or dark fantasy settings—are generally not protected. Only specific expressive elements like character designs, art assets, or names can constitute infringement. Comparisons like 'a winged character reminiscent of Malenia' or 'a white-haired woman like Melina' are archetypal, not direct copies. Therefore, legal risk is low, but reputational risk is real. Interestingly, the community itself has described Nodusfall as 'a mix of Elden Ring and Monster Hunter.' That observation is more revealing than any accusation because it shows players already recognize the co-op difference, even while they criticize the visual convergence. If HoYoverse skillfully leverages this distinction in future gameplay showcases, the narrative can shift from 'clone' to 'game with its own personality.' The true risk lies in a second wave. If, at launch, Nodusfall's gameplay feels derivative rather than merely visually similar, the backlash will be far more severe. The community will feel vindicated in their initial accusations, and boycott campaigns could extend. Conversely, if four-player boss hunting delivers a unique experience, today's controversy will become massive free marketing. More broadly, Nodusfall reflects a trend: Chinese developers are pushing into the premium console/PC arena long dominated by Japan and the West. If it succeeds, Nodusfall could open the door for a wave of Chinese investment in co-op soulslike games, reshaping the global competitive landscape over the next three to five years. With only a trailer and no gameplay data, every conclusion should be questioned. The community has the right to doubt and compare, but a static image never tells the full story. The final answer will come from the gameplay—what HoYoverse has not yet shown but what will decide whether Nodusfall becomes a masterpiece or merely a faint shadow.