Nodusfall: Rip-off of Elden Ring or HoYoverse's Turning Point?

When the first trailer of Nodusfall appeared on social media, the gaming community immediately split into two camps: one side cried 'rip-off of Elden Ring', the other defended that this was just a coincidence. But few realized that the way we compare these two games reflects a much bigger problem: player expectations are being shaped by a successful formula to the point that any dark fantasy game is put on the scale to compare with Elden Ring. And in that storm of controversy, one detail was overlooked: Nodusfall hasn't revealed any gameplay at all. HoYoverse, the famous name behind Genshin Impact and the Honkai series, just announced a new project called Nodusfall. The shocking thing is that they abandoned their signature anime style to switch to dark fantasy with realistic graphics. Immediately, the international community compared the characters in the trailer to famous characters from Elden Ring: a winged character reminded people of Malenia, a white-haired woman was compared to Melina. The keyword 'rip-off' flooded forums. However, remember that Elden Ring, released in 2026, created a huge boost for the soulslike genre, and many subsequent games have learned from this style. So where is the line between 'learning' and 'copying'? This article will analyze this controversy in depth, based on data and legal perspectives. First, let's look at the evidence. All we have is a 2-minute trailer, with no gameplay footage. Comparing based on static images is extremely one-sided. In gaming history, many games have similar art styles but completely different gameplay. For example, Dark Souls and Bloodborne are both from FromSoftware but have different play feels. The key point is that Nodusfall is introduced with a co-op boss hunting mechanic for up to 4 players. This brings it closer to Monster Hunter than to Elden Ring, which is a purely single-player game. If the gameplay truly focuses on co-op, then comparing it to Elden Ring is completely wrong. Legally, game mechanics (like combat, leveling systems) are generally not copyrightable; only specific expressive elements like character designs, names, or art assets can be considered infringement. The characters in Nodusfall only 'remind' rather than directly copy, so the chance of being sued is very low. However, the reputational risk is real. HoYoverse, with its huge financial resources, can easily weather this storm if they soon release gameplay showing the difference. In fact, this controversy could be a free marketing stunt: if the game is truly good, the community will forget the initial accusation. But if the gameplay is identical, then it will be a disaster. A trailer is also an open book: reading carefully will reveal design intentions that are cracking. In Vietnam, gaming forums like VGA and Facebook groups quickly spread the comparison images. Many Vietnamese gamers expressed disappointment that HoYoverse, a once-beloved company, could follow the path of Chinese 'clone' games. However, some others believe this is an opportunity for HoYoverse to prove its capability in a new genre. This division reflects a reality: the Vietnamese gaming community is becoming more demanding, and they don't easily forgive products lacking creativity. But that very demandingness will force developers to work harder. In the history of the gaming industry, there are many similar controversies. In 2026, Bethesda's Skyrim was compared to Dark Souls for its combat system and open world. In 2026, Horizon Zero Dawn was accused of copying the style of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But after release, both were recognized as unique works. This shows that initial comparisons are often based on superficial similarities, and only when gameplay is truly experienced do people realize the difference. Nodusfall may follow that path, or it may not. It all depends on what HoYoverse shows in the coming time. HoYoverse is making a big bet on Nodusfall. Switching from anime gacha games to dark fantasy requires much higher production costs, from new engines to design teams. If successful, they will open a new promising market in the West, where Elden Ring has proven the appeal of this genre. But if they fail, they will lose part of the reputation built from Genshin Impact. This is a big gamble, and the current controversy is just part of the game. Looking at cash flow, HoYoverse has enough ability to weather any storm, but reputation is hard to buy back. Elden Ring didn't change the gaming industry; it just changed how people sell games to you. Before Elden Ring, dark fantasy was a niche genre, only for hardcore players. After Elden Ring, it became a commercial formula that any publisher wants to exploit. HoYoverse, with global ambitions, cannot stay out of this trend. But the problem is, when too many games follow the same formula, saturation will occur, and players will turn away. Nodusfall needs to find a real difference, not only in co-op mechanics, but also in storytelling, world design, and combat feel. Otherwise, it will just be a 'bandwagon' product and quickly forgotten. So far, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have not given any official response about Nodusfall. This could be because they don't see it as a threat, or they are waiting for more information. In the past, FromSoftware rarely sued games accused of copying, because they understand that game mechanics cannot be protected. However, if Nodusfall has elements that are too similar, they might take diplomatic action. But that's a matter for the future. I remember in 2026, sitting next to a veteran journalist at the World Cup, I learned that truth doesn't need a side, just someone brave enough to speak. In this Nodusfall case, the truth is that we don't have enough data to conclude. But the community acts as if they've already played the game. This not only harms HoYoverse, but also creates a toxic environment for the players themselves. We need to be more sober and wait for real evidence. If Nodusfall succeeds, it could open a new direction for the soulslike genre: combining co-op and open world. This could attract a large number of players who don't like the harshness of Elden Ring. But if it fails, it will be a lesson for those who try to 'follow' a formula without innovation. I could be wrong, but I think we – the players – are too hasty. We've become accustomed to comparing everything to Elden Ring, to the point that any dark fantasy game is labeled 'rip-off'. This inadvertently creates unnecessary pressure on developers, forcing them to avoid familiar elements, leading to less creativity. Moreover, HoYoverse might deliberately create visual similarities to attract players from Elden Ring, as a marketing strategy. If so, then this controversy is intentional. But there's also the opposite possibility: they truly have a unique vision, and just because of a few random similarities, they're misunderstood. Either way, we need to wait for official gameplay before judging. As I often say: 'Put down the microphone, I understand: criticism is not attack, but listening to the end before speaking.' We should listen to what HoYoverse is about to present. If HoYoverse is smart, they will soon release a long gameplay video focusing on co-op mechanics, turning the story from 'rip-off' to 'innovation'. If not, the controversy will last until release, and then, if the game truly resembles Elden Ring, everything will fall apart. I bet they will choose the first option, because they can't let a big project be destroyed by a trailer. And as I once wrote: 'I don't write to make people agree; I write so they know there's someone out there thinking differently, and that's okay.' Let's wait and see. Finally, remember that in the gaming world, nothing is certain until the product is released. Everything else is just speculation. And speculation, no matter how well-founded, cannot replace real experience. Let time answer.