Nodusfall: When HoYoverse Steps Into Elden Ring's Territory — The Battle for Soulslike Identity

When the first trailer for Nodusfall was released, the global gaming community reacted almost instantly. Within 24 hours, major gaming forums were flooded with posts comparing screenshots between Nodusfall and Elden Ring — from a winged character reminiscent of Malenia, to a white-haired woman placed next to Melina. The term "rip-off" appeared densely across comments. But are we rushing to judgment when we've only seen a few still frames from an unreleased game? HoYoverse, the Chinese company famous for anime-style gacha games like Genshin Impact and the Honkai series, has just announced its newest project — Nodusfall. What shocked the community was not just their abandonment of the signature anime style in favor of dark fantasy with realistic graphics, but the degree of visual similarity between Nodusfall and Elden Ring — FromSoftware's Game of the Year 2026 winner. Attention quickly turned into controversy, and this controversy has raised a larger question: where exactly is the line between "inspired by" and "copying" in the gaming industry? To understand the significance of this controversy, we need to look at the broader context. Elden Ring is not just a successful game — it reset the standard for the entire open-world action RPG genre. Its influence on the gaming industry is undeniable. Since Elden Ring launched, countless new projects have adopted similar combat styles, world design, and the characteristic gloomy atmosphere of the soulslike genre. Dark fantasy has become the dominant design language for action RPGs, which explains why Nodusfall's visual similarities trigger such strong reactions. But there's a crucial detail many are overlooking: Nodusfall is not merely a copy. The core differentiator lies in its gameplay mechanics — Nodusfall focuses on cooperative boss hunting with up to four players. This is a genuine gameplay difference, positioning the game closer to Monster Hunter than to Elden Ring. Visual similarity does not necessarily imply mechanical similarity. A game can look like Elden Ring but play completely differently. The gaming community quickly recognized this, and some began calling Nodusfall a combination of Elden Ring and Monster Hunter. This comparison, though somewhat ironic, is actually the most useful framework for understanding the game. It shows the community acknowledging Nodusfall's differentiator even while accusing it of copying. This creates an opportunity for HoYoverse to pivot the narrative from "Elden Ring clone" to "Elden Ring meets Monster Hunter." This controversy also carries deeper regional implications. HoYoverse is China's most valuable game company, and their entry into a genre dominated by Japan's FromSoftware creates a development rivalry between the two nations. Historically, Chinese developers have frequently faced plagiarism accusations in global gaming discourse, and this controversy fits that pattern. However, we must be fair: dark fantasy and soulslike are not elements FromSoftware can monopolize. Many games before Nodusfall used dark fantasy settings and similar combat styles without being labeled as copies. Legally, the "rip-off" accusation is currently only the opinion of a segment of the community, not an official conclusion. Under copyright law, game mechanics (soulslike combat, dark fantasy settings) are generally not protectable — only specific expressive elements such as character designs, art assets, and names can be infringing. The similarities described in the controversy — a winged character "reminding" players of Malenia, a white-haired woman "compared to" Melina — are archetypal rather than direct copies. The legal risk is low, but the reputational risk is real. Interestingly, this controversy may be amplified by pre-existing community sentiment about Chinese game companies "copying" Japanese or Western titles. This is a narrative that predates Nodusfall and will shape how the debate evolves regardless of the game's actual quality. A segment of the community may be using the Elden Ring comparison as a vehicle for broader anti-HoYoverse sentiment — from criticism of its gacha monetization, its anime-style output, to its market dominance. From a business perspective, HoYoverse is making a strategic bet. Developing a dark fantasy game with realistic graphics will be significantly more expensive than their anime-style titles — higher art production costs, new engine requirements, and no existing assets to reuse. However, the growth potential lies in diversifying into the premium console/PC market — a segment where Elden Ring demonstrated massive demand. If Nodusfall succeeds, it could open a new path for HoYoverse and encourage other Chinese developers to pursue the global premium gaming market. But the risks are equally significant. If the "copying" narrative sticks, it could depress pre-orders and launch sales, particularly in the Western market where Elden Ring has a massive, passionate fanbase. The most dangerous scenario is not the current trailer backlash but a "second wave" at release: if Nodusfall launches with gameplay that feels derivative (not just visually similar), the backlash will be far more severe because the community will feel validated in their initial accusations. When the live broadcast stumbles, I learn to tell stories slowly. In this case, instead of rushing to judge Nodusfall based on a few still frames, we need to look at the bigger picture. HoYoverse has proven its ability to produce high-quality games on a global scale. Their financial resources far exceed FromSoftware's, meaning they can afford to iterate, hire talent, and polish Nodusfall to a high standard. The capital advantage may partially offset the design-pedigree gap. The forbidden zone gets covered, and the match begins to be seen through different eyes. Instead of focusing only on surface similarities, we should ask: does a co-op boss-hunting game truly compete directly with Elden Ring, a purely single-player experience? The answer is probably no. These two games may serve different player needs. Players seeking a challenging solo experience will choose Elden Ring; players wanting to hunt bosses with friends will choose Nodusfall. The visual similarity may be only skin deep. Data only gives us the door, but the story is the one who unlocks it. In this case, the data we have is very limited — just a trailer and a few still images. The real story of Nodusfall will only be written when actual gameplay is revealed. That is the moment when we can assess whether this game is truly different or just a disguised copy. Viewers remember the goal, filmmakers remember the silence before the goal. Similarly, the gaming community will remember the controversial images from the trailer, but experienced game developers will notice subtler details — co-op mechanics, combat systems, level design. These are the elements that will determine whether Nodusfall can stand on its own feet. This controversy also raises a larger question about the future of the soulslike genre. Are we witnessing genre fatigue? As more and more games adopt the soulslike formula, the line between "inspired by" and "copying" becomes increasingly blurred. Perhaps it's time for the gaming industry to have a serious dialogue about how we define creativity and innovation in a genre that has become overly popular. A slip on live television, a lifetime of script rewrites. For HoYoverse, the first trailer of Nodusfall could be seen as a slip — but it's also an opportunity to prove their own identity. If they can demonstrate gameplay differentiation in subsequent reveals, the current controversy could become motivation to attract even more attention. The gaming industry's history has witnessed many similar cases — a game criticized for copying but later recognized for its actual quality. In a year without football, I find the true pulse of the sport. Similarly, during the waiting period between the first trailer and the next gameplay reveal, we can find the true pulse of the gaming industry — strategic flows, investment decisions, and stories operating quietly beneath the media surface. HoYoverse is making a significant strategic move, and how they handle this controversy will say much about the company's long-term vision. The transfer map is not on paper, it's in relationships. Similarly, Nodusfall's development map is not in trailer images, but in how HoYoverse navigates its relationship with the gaming community, with FromSoftware, and with their own reputation. Every subsequent decision — from whether to directly address the accusations, to choosing when to reveal gameplay — will shape the final story of this game. Looking ahead, there are three possible scenarios. The most pessimistic: FromSoftware or Bandai Namco files a copyright claim over specific character designs — unlikely, as the described similarities are thematic/archetypal, not direct asset rips. The middle scenario: the controversy persists through development, forcing HoYoverse to redesign certain characters to distance Nodusfall from Elden Ring comparisons. The optimistic scenario: the community recognizes the co-op differentiator, the "copying" narrative fades, and Nodusfall is judged on its own merits at release. Based on my experience following matches and the gaming industry's development, I believe the middle scenario is most likely. The controversy will continue for one to six months — until the next major reveal — then either intensify or dissipate. The determining factor is whether HoYoverse can demonstrate gameplay differentiation before release. The company's financial strength provides a buffer, but reputational damage to the HoYoverse brand — known for polish and originality — could have longer-term consequences. The final question is not whether Nodusfall looks like Elden Ring — but whether it is different enough to create its own identity. And the answer will not come from forum debates, but from actual gameplay when the game launches. Until then, all we have are still frames and hasty judgments. Perhaps it's time we learned to tell stories slowly.