An Elden Ring player, Nora Kisaragi, is suing Bandai Namco and FromSoftware in Massachusetts small claims court. The lawsuit alleges that the developers deceptively concealed substantial game content by making the games excessively difficult, thereby misleading consumers. Kisaragi claims a "whole new game" is hidden within Elden Ring and other FromSoftware titles.
Kisaragi's argument centers on the idea that the high difficulty level masks undiscovered content. They cite datamined content as evidence, contrasting with the common interpretation that this material is simply cut content. Instead, Kisaragi insists it's intentionally hidden, pointing to vague statements from developers in other games as "constant hints."
The lawsuit's viability is highly questionable. While Massachusetts small claims court allows individuals over 18 to sue without an attorney, the plaintiff lacks concrete evidence. The claim could potentially fall under consumer protection laws, but proving deceptive practices and consumer harm will be extremely difficult without substantial proof. Even if successful, damages would be limited.
Many dismiss the lawsuit as absurd, noting that extensive datamining would have revealed such hidden content. The presence of cut content in game code is common industry practice, not indicative of intentional deception.
Despite the low likelihood of success, Kisaragi's stated goal isn't monetary compensation, but to force Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the existence of this alleged "hidden dimension," regardless of the court's decision.
