Nodusfall: An Elden Ring Clone or HoYoverse's Strategic Move?

When the first trailer of Nodusfall appeared, the gaming community immediately split into two camps. One side accused HoYoverse of copying Elden Ring too blatantly, while the other argued this was just a coincidence in an already saturated genre. But amid the wave of controversy, there's an important detail most people overlooked: Nodusfall is not a pure single-player game like Elden Ring. HoYoverse, the company famous for anime gacha games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact, just announced a new project with a complete stylistic shift. Instead of bright anime graphics, Nodusfall features a dark fantasy aesthetic with realistic visuals. This is the first time HoYoverse has departed from its successful formula to enter a completely different market: premium action RPGs for console and PC. This shift is not accidental. Elden Ring, released in 2026, set a new standard for the action RPG genre. With over 20 million copies sold and a Game of the Year award, FromSoftware's title proved that the dark fantasy soulslike market has enormous demand. Unsurprisingly, many developers are rushing to follow this trend, and HoYoverse is no exception. However, what makes Nodusfall the center of controversy is not just the dark fantasy style. The gaming community quickly pointed out similarities between characters in the Nodusfall trailer and characters in Elden Ring. A winged character was directly compared to Malenia, a white-haired woman was compared to Melina. The term "rip-off" quickly appeared on forums. But are these comparisons fair? As someone who has followed the development of the soulslike genre for years, I see a fundamental problem in how the community is evaluating Nodusfall. They are comparing a game with no gameplay footage yet to a fully polished game. Drawing conclusions based on a few still images from a trailer is a serious analytical error. The most important difference lies in the gameplay mechanics. Nodusfall focuses on cooperative boss hunting with up to four players. This is a fundamental difference from Elden Ring, which is a single-player experience. In terms of actual gameplay, Nodusfall might be closer to Monster Hunter than Elden Ring. Visual similarity does not necessarily mean mechanical similarity. Some in the community have recognized this and called Nodusfall a combination of Elden Ring and Monster Hunter. This assessment is probably much more accurate than calling Nodusfall a clone of Elden Ring. If HoYoverse can prove that the cooperative boss-hunting mechanic is the main highlight, the narrative can quickly shift from "copying" to "innovation." Legally, the risk HoYoverse faces is quite low. Copyright law generally does not protect gameplay mechanics or dark fantasy settings in general. Only specific expressive elements such as character designs, art assets, or names can be considered infringing. The similarities described in the article are archetypal and thematic, not direct copies. However, the reputational risk is real. If the "copying" narrative persists, it could affect pre-orders and launch sales, especially in Western markets where Elden Ring has a massive fanbase. Interestingly, this controversy also reflects a regional competition. HoYoverse, China's most valuable game company, is entering a genre dominated by Japan's FromSoftware. Historically, Chinese developers have often faced accusations of copying from Japanese and Western games. The Nodusfall controversy fits this pattern and may be amplified by pre-existing biases. However, HoYoverse has an advantage that FromSoftware doesn't: enormous financial resources. With billions in revenue from Genshin Impact, HoYoverse can invest heavily in production quality, attract talent, and continuously improve Nodusfall. The capital advantage can partially offset the gap in genre design experience. The biggest question now is whether HoYoverse can prove Nodusfall's own identity before release. If they soon release gameplay footage clearly showing the cooperative boss-hunting mechanic, the narrative can shift. Conversely, if the game launches with gameplay that feels derivative, the community's reaction will be far more severe than the current backlash. In the context of the regular season, when teams are gradually finding form and coaches are experimenting with new tactics, the Nodusfall story reminds me of a familiar lesson in sports: don't rush to judge a team after just a few early-season matches. Just as a coach needs time to build a playing style, a game needs time to prove its true value. The widest stadium is not the one with the most people, but the one where people are willing to listen. And in the gaming world, that stadium is the gaming community. They have the right to doubt, the right to criticize, but they also have the responsibility to wait for enough information before making a final judgment. Nodusfall could be a clone of Elden Ring, or it could be a bold strategic move by HoYoverse. The answer won't come from still images in a trailer, but from the actual hours of gameplay when the game launches. Until then, every conclusion is just speculation. In the empty stadium, I hear my own voice clearer than ever. And that voice is saying: wait before you judge.