Nodusfall and the Elden Ring Shadow: When the Gacha Giant Steps Into Soulslike Territory

On March 15, 2026, HoYoverse unveiled the first trailer for Nodusfall – a realistic-graphics action RPG that completely abandons the anime style that made Genshin Impact famous. Within 48 hours, the gaming community split into two camps: one comparing the winged character in the trailer to Malenia, the other openly calling it an 'Elden Ring rip-off.' But if you read the trailer closely, you'll notice a detail most of the debate overlooks: Nodusfall features co-op boss hunting for up to four players – something Elden Ring never had. Before rushing to label it a 'clone,' let me dig into the genre contract, the money flow, and the brand strategy behind this risky move. The market context is hotter than ever: since Elden Ring launched in 2026 and won GOTY, countless new projects have rushed to make soulslikes with similar dark fantasy aesthetics. No one can monopolize a genre – that's the argument of those defending Nodusfall. But the story doesn't stop at 'who owns an idea.' The real issue lies in how the community perceives difference: they only have static frames from a trailer, with not a single second of gameplay revealed. Comparing based on still images is a methodological mistake any esports analyst knows: you can't evaluate a team from a roster photo. The clause HoYoverse buried in the trailer isn't in the visuals – it's in the gameplay. Four players hunting a boss together mechanics closer to Monster Hunter than Elden Ring. Imagine: if Nodusfall truly delivers smooth co-op experiences, it won't compete in the same segment as Elden Ring; it will open a new niche – cooperative soulslike. At that point, the 'copy or not' question becomes meaningless. There is precedent: many games accused of being 'clones' were forgotten, but those that differentiated via mechanics survived. The truth lies in numbers: HoYoverse's revenue far exceeds FromSoftware's many times over; they have enough financial muscle to hire top design talent and polish the product to perfection. The question isn't 'whether they copied,' but 'whether they have the capability to escape the massive shadow of the predecessor.' But let's talk about the blind spot both sides are ignoring. The community calls Nodusfall a 'rip-off' based on visual impressions, and this judgment carries regional bias: gamers tend to associate Chinese companies with copying Japanese products – a narrative that existed long before Nodusfall. Is this backlash truly reflecting product quality, or is it a continuation of an old trope? Moreover, if Nodusfall fails to demonstrate its distinctiveness at launch, the wave of criticism will be even fiercer – accusers will feel 'validated.' But if HoYoverse promptly releases gameplay footage showing the unique co-op mechanic, public opinion can completely reverse. This is their golden window to shift the narrative. The season dies, but numbers never die. Nodusfall isn't a match to analyze before kickoff – it's a major transfer deal: HoYoverse is betting its reputation on a completely unfamiliar genre. The contract looks pristine, but the legal fine print is pitch black: they haven't violated copyright because gameplay mechanics cannot be protected; only specific expressions like character designs can be litigated – and what the community points out remains at the level of 'reminiscent' rather than 'direct copy.' The clause they buried, I'm just the one digging it up: Nodusfall is not a copy; it's a challenge thrown at FromSoftware – do you dare make a four-player co-op soulslike? And the answer I want to see isn't in the trailer; it's in the first three minutes of gameplay when the game launches. The ball rolls on grass, but the transfer rolls on paper. Nodusfall is rolling on the negotiation table of public opinion, and all eyes are on HoYoverse's next move. If they stay silent, the 'rip-off' story will cling to the project until release. If they release co-op gameplay now, they can turn controversy into a marketing lever. Whether this game succeeds or fails isn't determined by who's right in this debate – but by whether HoYoverse can prove that the Elden Ring shadow is only a starting point, not a destination. Can they do it? I don't have the answer, but I know one thing for sure: if Nodusfall truly creates a differentiated co-op experience, then the very people mocking it today will be the ones apologizing tomorrow.