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

A player's lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware claims deceptive advertising, alleging Elden Ring hides significant content behind its difficulty. This article examines the lawsuit's details, its likelihood of success, and the plaintiff's motivations.

Elden Ring Lawsuit Filed in Small Claims Court

Difficulty Masking 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.

FromSoftware games are known for their challenging yet fair gameplay. The recent Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC reinforced this reputation, proving difficult even for experienced players.

Kisaragi claims Bandai Namco and FromSoftware misrepresent the game's completeness, using datamined content as evidence. Unlike others who believe this data represents cut content, Kisaragi insists it's deliberately hidden. The plaintiff admits a lack of concrete evidence, relying on "constant hints" from developers, such as references in Sekiro's art book and statements by FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki.

The core argument: "You paid for content inaccessible without even knowing about it."

Many dismiss the case as absurd, noting that dataminers would have uncovered such a "hidden game" years ago. Games often contain remnants of cut content due to development constraints—a common industry practice not indicative of deliberate concealment.

Legal Viability of the Lawsuit

Massachusetts law allows anyone over 18 to sue in small claims court without an attorney. However, the judge will assess the case's validity. The plaintiff might attempt to use the state's Consumer Protection Law, which prohibits "unfair or deceptive practices," arguing a lack of disclosure or misleading information. However, proving a "hidden dimension" will be extremely difficult, requiring substantial evidence and demonstrating consumer harm. Without this, dismissal is highly probable.

Even if successful, damages in small claims court are limited. Despite this, Kisaragi remains focused on forcing Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the alleged hidden content, regardless of the lawsuit's outcome.