Gamer Files Lawsuit Against Elden Ring After Failing to Progress

An Elden Ring player, Nora Kisaragi, has filed a lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware in Massachusetts small claims court. Kisaragi alleges that the developers misled consumers by concealing significant game content through intentionally difficult gameplay. This claim, made on 4Chan, asserts that FromSoftware games hide "a whole new game" within their challenging structure.

Kisaragi's argument hinges on the idea that the high difficulty level obscures substantial, intentionally hidden content. They cite datamined content as evidence, rejecting the common interpretation that this material is simply leftover from development. Instead, they point to vague statements from developers, such as references in Sekiro's art book and comments by FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki, as "constant hints" supporting their claim. Essentially, their argument is that players paid for inaccessible content without even knowing of its existence.

The lawsuit's viability is highly questionable. Even if hidden content existed, dataminers would likely have discovered it. The presence of unused assets in game code is standard industry practice, often due to time constraints or design changes. Kisaragi lacks concrete evidence beyond speculation and interpretation of ambiguous developer statements.

While Massachusetts small claims court allows individuals 18 or older to sue without an attorney, the judge will determine the case's validity. Kisaragi could attempt to argue under Consumer Protection Law, claiming deceptive practices. However, proving this will be extremely difficult without substantial evidence. Even if successful, damages awarded in small claims court are limited.

Despite the low probability of success, Kisaragi's stated goal is not monetary compensation, but rather to force Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the existence of this purported "hidden dimension," regardless of the court's ruling.