Elden Ring Player Sues For Content Being Inaccessible Due to Skill Issues

An Elden Ring player, Nora Kisaragi, has filed a lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware in Massachusetts small claims court. The suit alleges that the developers misled consumers by concealing substantial game content, claiming a "whole new game… hidden inside" their titles, obscured by intentionally high difficulty.

Kisaragi's argument centers on the idea that FromSoftware's notoriously challenging games, including the recent Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, mask intentionally hidden content. They cite datamined content as evidence, contradicting the common interpretation of this material as cut content. Their evidence is largely circumstantial, relying on perceived "hints" from developers like references in Sekiro's art book and statements by FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki.

The lawsuit's viability is questionable. While Massachusetts small claims court allows individuals 18 and older to sue without an attorney, the plaintiff lacks concrete evidence. The claim might fall under "Consumer Protection Law," but proving deceptive practices and resulting consumer harm will be extremely difficult. Even if successful, damages would be limited.

Many dismiss the case as absurd, noting that dataminers would have likely uncovered such hidden content. The presence of remnants of cut content in game code is common industry practice, not evidence of intentional concealment.

Despite the low likelihood of success, Kisaragi's primary goal appears to be forcing Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the existence of this purported "hidden dimension," regardless of the lawsuit's outcome.