Nodusfall: A rip-off of Elden Ring or a new pivot for HoYoverse? An esports perspective

You will hate me for this, but Nodusfall is not a rip-off of Elden Ring. It is a bold combination of two iconic game worlds, and if HoYoverse plays its cards right, this controversy will become a springboard for success. I have been following the gaming industry since my days as an esports commentator in Busan, and I have learned one thing: the community is too quick to judge based on a single trailer. That is why I am writing this.

When HoYoverse announced Nodusfall – an action RPG that abandons its usual anime style for realistic dark fantasy – a wave of debate erupted immediately. On Vietnamese forums like VuaBong.vn and international sites, players placed screenshots side by side and cried 'rip-off'. A winged character resembling Malenia, a white-haired woman reminiscent of Melina – these details were enough to trigger the wrath of Elden Ring fans. But I say: this is the reaction of a community that does not yet have enough information.

What is the tactical context here? Elden Ring by FromSoftware (2026) set a new standard for the open-world soulslike genre. Its massive success – over 20 million copies sold, GOTY wins – means any game with a similar style will be compared to it. HoYoverse, famous for Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, has decided to venture into FromSoftware's territory. This naturally sparks suspicion. But look at the data: HoYoverse is one of the richest game companies in the world (billions in annual revenue), and it is heavily investing in the premium console/PC market. Nodusfall is not a small project – it is a strategic statement from a giant.

The core of the issue lies in the co-op boss-hunting mechanic. Nodusfall allows up to four players to take down giant bosses together – a completely different experience from Elden Ring, which has limited co-op and is primarily single-player. If you look at the trailer, you will see combat scenes emphasizing teamwork: combined attacks, enemy aggro switching, and rescue maneuvers. This is what Monster Hunter does well, but combined with a dark fantasy soulslike atmosphere. So Nodusfall is essentially 'Elden Ring meets Monster Hunter' – a formula never seen on the market before. I have reviewed all the trailer screenshots, and I found no direct asset rips. The character designs have HoYoverse's own style, but are influenced by the same artistic school. This is different from 'ripping off'.

Let me address the contrarian angle. Where could I be wrong? If, when gameplay is revealed, HoYoverse simply copies Elden Ring's formula without clear differentiation, the backlash will intensify. But I believe a company with a strong legal team like HoYoverse has already checked copyright before releasing the trailer. The fact that they dared to release such controversial footage shows they are confident in their legal defense. The real risk is reputation: if the community continues to label Nodusfall as a 'copycat', pre-orders could suffer, especially in the Western market where Elden Ring has a massive fanbase.

What I want to emphasize: this controversy is essentially a battle between HoYoverse's strategic vision and the community's instinctive reaction. If HoYoverse can prove its own identity through the unique co-op gameplay, the current criticism will become free marketing. Look at history: many successful games were called 'rip-offs' before release, but when quality was proven, the narrative changed. I predict that within the next six months, when HoYoverse releases a longer gameplay demo focused on co-op boss hunting, the story will shift from 'rip-off' to 'creative fusion'. If I am wrong, it means HoYoverse failed to communicate its differentiation.

I do not belong to any game team. I follow the stories that the gaming industry forgets to tell. And the story of Nodusfall has only just begun. Let's wait and see.