Elden Ring Player's Lawsuit: A "Skill Issue" or Misleading Marketing?

An Elden Ring player, Nora Kisaragi, has filed a lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware in Massachusetts small claims court. The claim alleges that the developers deceptively concealed substantial game content, essentially arguing that a "whole new game" is hidden within the notoriously difficult gameplay.

Kisaragi's 4Chan post announcing the lawsuit claims that FromSoftware intentionally obscures this hidden content through the games' high difficulty. This difficulty, while a hallmark of FromSoftware titles and praised by many players, is presented by Kisaragi as a deliberate tactic to mask the incomplete nature of the advertised product. The recent Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, further fuels this argument, as its challenging content has been noted even by veteran players.

Kisaragi cites datamined content as evidence, contrasting with the common interpretation that this data represents cut content. Instead, they posit that this material is intentionally hidden, supported by what they perceive as "constant hints" from the developers. These hints include references to Sekiro's art book and statements by FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki.

The core of the argument is that players paid for inaccessible content without even knowing of its existence. However, many dismiss the case as absurd, noting that extensive datamining would have likely revealed such a "hidden game" years ago. The presence of cut content remnants in game code is common industry practice, often due to development constraints, and doesn't inherently imply intentional deception.

The lawsuit's legal viability is questionable. While Massachusetts small claims court allows individuals 18 or older to sue without an attorney, the plaintiff must prove their claims under consumer protection laws. This requires substantial evidence of deceptive practices and demonstrable consumer harm, which are currently lacking. The case relies heavily on speculation and lacks concrete proof, making dismissal highly probable. Even if successful, damages in small claims court are limited.

Despite the low likelihood of success, Kisaragi's stated goal is not monetary compensation but to force Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the existence of the alleged "hidden dimension." The case remains a highly unusual and unlikely challenge to the established perception of FromSoftware game design.