A player's lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware alleges deceptive marketing, claiming Elden Ring hides significant content behind excessive difficulty. This article examines the lawsuit, its potential success, and the plaintiff's motivations.

Elden Ring Lawsuit Filed in Small Claims Court

"Skill Issue" Masks Hidden Content?

A 4chan user, Nora Kisaragi, announced plans to sue Bandai Namco on September 25th, arguing that Elden Ring, and other FromSoftware titles, contain a "hidden game" intentionally obscured by high difficulty. While FromSoftware games are known for their challenging gameplay, and the recent Shadow of the Erdtree DLC increased this difficulty, Kisaragi claims this difficulty is a deliberate tactic to conceal substantial unreleased content.

Kisaragi cites datamined content as evidence, contradicting the common belief that such data represents cut content. Instead, Kisaragi insists this material is intentionally hidden, basing this assertion on "constant hints" from the developers. Examples cited include Sekiro's art book and statements by FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki.

The core of Kisaragi's argument is that players paid for inaccessible content without knowledge of its existence.

The lawsuit's absurdity is evident to many, as dataminers would likely have discovered and publicized any "hidden game" years ago. The presence of cut content in game code is common industry practice, often due to time constraints or development limitations, not intentional concealment.

Legal Viability of the Lawsuit

Massachusetts law permits individuals aged 18 and older to file small claims suits without legal representation. However, the judge will assess the case's validity before the hearing.

Kisaragi might attempt to argue under the state's Consumer Protection Law, which prohibits "unfair or deceptive practices." This would require proving that the developers withheld information or misled consumers, a significant hurdle. Without substantial evidence of a "hidden dimension" and demonstrable consumer harm, dismissal is highly probable. Even if successful, damages in Small Claims Court are limited.

Despite the long odds, Kisaragi remains resolute, stating their goal is to force Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the alleged hidden content, regardless of the lawsuit's outcome.