Watching Let Me Solo Her destroy Malenia, you’d never know Elden Ring is difficult. The expert movements of top-tier players make the game’s challenge look trivial, but it’s as tough as anything else FromSoftware has cooked up. It’s so difficult that one Elden Ring player has announced a lawsuit against the developer, as reported by MP1st. The accusation? That “a whole new game is hidden inside” FromSoftware’s work, a game that most players aren’t good to ever see. It’s a bold claim, but is it true, and can the claim itself tell us anything new about the challenge of Elden Ring?
Elden Ring Difficulty Lawsuit Explained
The anonymous 4chan member reportedly plans to sue both Bandai Namco and FromSoftware on September 25 because “it’s too hard to access for even its most dedicated fans.” However, it appears doubtful that there’s anything of substance behind the suit. Data miners have already combed over Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree. Though they’ve unveiled interesting details about everything from character models to world design, they’ve never found anything close to “a whole new game” hidden within. Cutting content is a natural part of the development process, but even if large chunks of cut content exist, it’s doubtful that a court would consider it a game unto itself.
FromSoftware has so far issued no statement on the matter. Whether or not anything materializes of this lawsuit or its claims, the question of difficulty and player access is an interesting one. Malenia and the final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree aren’t the only skill-checks in the FromSoftware repertoire. Armored Core 6 also received flack for over-tuned foes like Balteus and CEL 240. Yet punishing difficulty is a huge part of the Soulslike appeal for many, with some talented players beating the game without summons or by using a dance pad as a controller. This lawsuit may be Sisyphean, but it could have big ramifications for the industry if it goes anywhere.
