An Elden Ring player has sued Bandai Namco and FromSoftware, claiming consumers were misled about the game's content. This article explores the lawsuit, its likelihood of success, and the plaintiff's motivations.
Elden Ring Player Files Small Claims Court Lawsuit
“Skill Issue” Conceals Content, Claims Plaintiff
A 4Chan user, Nora Kisaragi, announced plans to sue Bandai Namco on September 25th. Kisaragi alleges that Elden Ring, and other FromSoftware titles, hide a "whole new game" behind their notoriously high difficulty.
FromSoftware games are known for their challenging yet fair gameplay. The recent Shadow of the Erdtree DLC solidified this reputation, proving difficult even for experienced players.
Kisaragi argues this difficulty obscures significant, intentionally hidden content. They claim Bandai Namco and FromSoftware falsely advertise the game as complete, citing datamined content as evidence—contrasting with the common belief that this data represents cut content. Instead, Kisaragi insists it’s deliberately concealed.
The plaintiff admits lacking concrete evidence, relying on what they call "constant hints" from the developers. Examples include Sekiro's art book hinting at Genichiro's untold story and FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki's statement about humanity's role in Bloodborne. Their core argument: "You paid for content you can't access without even knowing about it."
Many consider the lawsuit absurd, noting that if such hidden content existed, dataminers would have uncovered it. The presence of leftover data from cut content is common in game development due to time constraints and limitations—not necessarily intentional concealment.
The Lawsuit's Viability
Massachusetts law allows anyone over 18 to sue in small claims court without an attorney. However, the judge will determine the case's validity.
Kisaragi could argue under "Consumer Protection Law," which prohibits "unfair or deceptive practices," by claiming the developers withheld information or misled consumers. However, proving this will be extremely difficult. The plaintiff needs substantial evidence of a "hidden dimension" and how this deception harmed consumers. Without such proof, dismissal is highly likely.
Even if successful, damages in Small Claims Court are limited.
Despite this, Kisaragi remains resolute: "I don’t care if the case is dismissed, just so long as I get Namco Bandai on public record saying the dimension exists. That’s all I care about," they stated on 4Chan.
