Nodusfall: When HoYoverse Sings the Elden Ring Ballad, and Why We Shouldn't Rush to Judgment

There is a moment every gamer knows: you watch a trailer, and within three seconds, you are certain you have seen this game somewhere before. That is exactly what happened with Nodusfall, HoYoverse's new title. A winged figure reminiscent of Malenia, a white-haired woman evoking Melina. The gaming community immediately slapped it with the 'rip-off' label — a clone of Elden Ring. But I have followed the gaming industry long enough to know that shocks are not meant to be erased, but to be sung. And before we sing the song of condemnation, let us look at the cracks in the strategy — where the truth often hides. The context of this story is clear. HoYoverse, the Chinese giant known for anime gacha titles like Genshin Impact, announced a new project with a complete stylistic shift: dark fantasy with realistic graphics. This is an ambitious strategic pivot targeting the Western console/PC market — where FromSoftware's Elden Ring has set a new standard for the action RPG genre. Elden Ring's influence on the gaming industry is undeniable. Many new projects are choosing similar combat styles, world design, and atmosphere. And Nodusfall, with its first trailer, has become the focal point of that wave of comparison. But here is the core part I want to analyze. What the community is overlooking in the storm of criticism is Nodusfall's core gameplay mechanic: cooperative boss hunting with up to four players. This is not a minor detail — it is a fundamental design difference. Elden Ring is a single-player experience where the player faces the world in solitude. Nodusfall, with its co-op mechanic, is moving closer to Monster Hunter — a completely different genre in terms of rhythm and feel. Visual similarity does not necessarily equate to mechanical similarity. This is a tactical blind spot that the 'copycat' accusations are missing. I have followed matches and the gaming industry's development long enough to recognize a pattern: communities often render verdicts based on superficial evidence. In this case, all we have are static images from a trailer — no gameplay footage has been released. Concluding a game is a 'clone' based solely on visual style is a fundamental analytical error. Even in esports, we have this principle: you cannot judge a team by its roster list alone; you must watch them play. Similarly, you cannot judge a game by its trailer alone. However, I must also be objective: HoYoverse is making a massive bet on this pivot. Abandoning its signature anime style to enter a genre dominated by FromSoftware is a risky decision. If Nodusfall fails to establish clear differentiation at launch, the current backlash will intensify tenfold — because the community will feel their initial accusations have been validated. This is the most dangerous scenario, and it is entirely possible. But there is another perspective rarely mentioned: this controversy, though unwanted, is generating a massive amount of free attention for Nodusfall. If HoYoverse can prove its own identity through gameplay, the current controversies can become motivation to attract more attention. This is a familiar pattern in the industry: negative attention is still attention, and if the final product is good enough, it can be converted into marketing momentum. Legally, the risk is low. Copyright law typically does not protect gameplay mechanics — only specific expressive elements like character designs or art assets. The similarities described in the article (a winged character 'reminiscent' of Malenia, a white-haired woman 'compared to' Melina) are archetypal rather than direct copies. The real risk lies in reputation, not legality. So, where should we stand in this debate? I believe the answer lies in patience. Wait for the next gameplay footage. See whether the co-op mechanic truly creates a different experience. Let Nodusfall have the chance to be judged on its actual merits, not on static images from a trailer. Every match is a draft, only true writers dare to continue. And in this gaming industry, we are all writers waiting for the next chapter.