Why I Refuse to Call Nodusfall an 'Elden Ring Rip-Off' Yet

A trailer barely two minutes long was enough to heat up the whole community. Spread wings, a white-haired woman, dark ruins stretching across the frame. The first shots of Nodusfall immediately reminded viewers of Malenia, Melina and the lands of Elden Ring. Before a single second of gameplay appeared, the word “rip-off” was everywhere. Fans hate the truth, but I didn't get on air to be loved. What I see is a verdict issued before the court could open. Nodusfall has only been teased; HoYoverse is still holding cards behind its back, and what passes for evidence right now is just visual familiarity. Context matters before any verdict. HoYoverse was once defined by the colorful anime world of Genshin Impact and the Honkai series: gacha, demigod-like characters, bright visuals. Now Nodusfall arrives with dark tones, realistic graphics, and no trace of the cute anime shell. This is an unprecedented strategic pivot for a giant that profits from the anime community. Elden Ring is not merely a 2026 Game of the Year winner; it shaped the design language of an entire generation of action RPGs. New studios adopt punishing combat, gloomy worlds, and post-apocalyptic settings. So Nodusfall looking similar to Elden Ring in players' eyes is not unusual. What stands out is how quickly the community attached a label. A winged character is put on the scale against Malenia; a white-haired woman is compared to Melina; some even call HoYoverse a copy shop. But they placed two still images side by side and then wrote the story themselves. In the game industry, visual elements make the strongest first impression, yet they are also the most superficial layer. Let me be blunt: most observers are judging Nodusfall with their eyes, not with their hands. That might work for painting, but it is unfair for games. A game is about control, reaction rhythm, and how a boss reads the behavior of four players. Whether it is derivative must be answered through real combat, movement systems, reload timing, and healing rhythm. It cannot be answered by a still frame. Legally, the boundaries are clear: mechanics, style, dark settings and hard combat are not wholly protectable. Dark fantasy and soulslike are the industry's shared language, just as defensive counter-attacking football belongs to no one. What can be challenged is a specific character, art design, dialogue, or trademark. A winged character that evokes Malenia is not proof that HoYoverse copied the design; it may simply share the fallen-angel motif FromSoftware does not own. Better yet, Nodusfall has a genuine differentiator: four-player co-op boss hunting. This is not the lonely Elden Ring experience. The design brings it closer to Monster Hunter, where players coordinate, divide roles, and time their attacks. From a distance, the scenery may resemble the Lands Between; but in battle, players will call teammates and watch boss patterns together, not wander alone. If this mechanic is proven in gameplay, the rip-off narrative will collapse quickly. From my experience watching elite competition, a football team cannot be judged by the color of its shirt. Likewise, a game cannot be killed by three frames. At the 2026 World Cup, I said Germany would be eliminated early because their play was stale. I was cursed for fifteen minutes on air. When it actually happened, 41,000 views suddenly called me visionary. They forgot how many times I had been wrong before. Communities have short memories, but rushed predictions live long if left unchecked. I am ready to stand against the current: there is not enough evidence to call Nodusfall a clone. But I can also be wrong. If the release shows identical combat rhythm, identical punishment systems, and a world that is only a repainted copy, then this entire article collapses. And I will accept that. I used to fear being wrong on air, until I was wrong and learned I was born to speak. Being wrong is not frightening; silence rooted in fear of criticism is. The criticism aimed at HoYoverse is actually a test for the whole industry: can a Chinese company enter sacred ground created by Japan without being branded a thief? To some, this is a reason for outrage. But strategically, this is free opening publicity few studios can buy. If HoYoverse soon releases gameplay focused on four-player boss hunting, the community will shift from plagiarism to coordination, from comparison to testing. The media storm may turn into a marketing advantage. If they keep hiding gameplay, the debate will erode the brand before the game is even released. I do not know whether Nodusfall will be good. I am not defending HoYoverse. I only know this: the game industry, like sports, has watched too much talent killed by hasty verdicts. Before accusing, wait for one gameplay loop. If the truth is plagiarism, I will be the first to say it on air. For now, let the game speak.