HoYoverse's Nodusfall Sparks Major Controversy Over Strong Elden Ring Similarities

Explosive Controversy: How Similar is HoYoverse's Nodusfall to Elden Ring? Hanoi, March 15, 2026 - HoYoverse, the developer behind Genshin Impact and Honkai series, has officially announced its new action RPG titled Nodusfall. According to official information, the game is a dark fantasy project with realistic graphics, focusing on a four-player co-op boss hunting mechanic. However, the trailer release triggered immediate backlash, with accusations of 'rip-off' from Elden Ring by FromSoftware. The trailer showcases realistic dark fantasy world with designs reminiscent of Malenia and Melina from Elden Ring. Players immediately compared the two, spreading the term 'rip-off' widely. Experts note the claims stem from static images in the trailer, not full gameplay footage. HoYoverse claims it's inspired, not copied, but community skepticism remains deep. Analysis reveals the current action RPG meta is shaped by Elden Ring's 2026 success. FromSoftware defined soulslike with challenging combat, dark fantasy worlds, and punishing difficulty. Many studios followed, leading to 'soulslike fatigue'. Nodusfall joins this trend but adds four-player co-op, differing from FromSoftware's single-player focus. No patch data exists yet as it's pre-release. The meta is dark fantasy and soulslike, affecting all action RPG developers. HoYoverse's strong finances from billions in revenue give it resources to hire talent and polish. However, design pedigree still lags behind FromSoftware's veteran status in the field. The four-player co-op is a potential differentiator, making Nodusfall closer to Monster Hunter than pure Elden Ring. Yet, community worry persists if visual similarity lacks gameplay depth. Social media reactions show direct comparisons and anger. Some argue dark fantasy and soulslike aren't monopolizable by FromSoftware, but most doubt the copying claim. Regional analysis shows China vs Japan rivalry. HoYoverse is China's most valuable game company with global reach via gacha. FromSoftware has high design reputation despite smaller scale. Talent gap exists, but HoYoverse's capital can compensate. This signals Chinese studios expanding to premium markets where Elden Ring proved huge demand. Financially, HoYoverse is strong. The company self-funds with stable revenue. Investing in Nodusfall means major resource allocation with higher production costs than anime-style games. Biggest risk is brand reputation if 'rip-off' narrative sticks. If launch disappoints, pre-orders may drop. Conversely, if co-op proves unique, controversy could fuel marketing. Compliance risk is low. Game mechanics like combat aren't copyrightable, only specific expressive elements could face claims. HoYoverse did internal review, indicating confidence. Public opinion decides 'inspired by' vs 'rip-off'. Overall risk is medium. Reputational damage is primary if narrative unchanged. Key variable is next gameplay reveal to highlight co-op and shift focus. In the game industry, soulslike trend dominates. Elden Ring shaped community expectations. Nodusfall shows HoYoverse's push beyond gacha to premium. This may encourage other Chinese studios, changing global action RPG competition. The story has layers. Culturally, it's crossover between anime gacha and realistic dark fantasy. Vietnamese gaming community, familiar with Elden Ring, awaits official response. Many fans fear visual similarity hurts experience despite co-op potential. Based on industry monitoring, early controversies last until big gameplay reveal. If Nodusfall differs enough, it could pioneer co-op soulslike. If not deep enough, 'copy' narrative persists. HoYoverse must manage expectations for Elden Ring fans. Overall, Nodusfall is in early controversy phase. Core insight: static images insufficient to judge game. Community waits for real footage assessment. Hope HoYoverse, with strong resources, delivers worthy product, turning controversy into development fuel.