An Elden Ring player's lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware claims deceptive advertising, alleging hidden game content obscured by high difficulty. Let's examine this unusual legal action.
A "Hidden Game" Claim
A 4Chan user, Nora Kisaragi, initiated a small claims court lawsuit on September 25th. Their argument centers on the assertion that FromSoftware games, including Elden Ring, conceal a substantial amount of gameplay deliberately masked by their notoriously challenging design. This "hidden game," according to Kisaragi, constitutes a breach of consumer trust. The recent Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, with its increased difficulty, further fuels this claim.
Kisaragi contends that Bandai Namco and FromSoftware misrepresent the game's completeness, using datamined content as (weak) evidence. Unlike those who view this data as remnants of cut content, Kisaragi believes it points to intentional concealment. Their supporting evidence is largely anecdotal, consisting of vague developer statements interpreted as "hints." For instance, they cite Sekiro's art book and comments from FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki. The core of their complaint boils down to: "You paid for content you can't access without even knowing about it."
The claim's absurdity is widely acknowledged. The existence of a significant, undiscovered game section would likely have been revealed by dataminers long ago. The presence of cut content in game code is commonplace, stemming from development constraints – not deliberate obfuscation.
Legal Viability?
Filed in Massachusetts, the lawsuit falls under small claims court jurisdiction, requiring no lawyer. While the plaintiff can attempt to use consumer protection laws citing "unfair or deceptive practices," proving intentional deception will be extremely difficult. The lack of concrete evidence makes dismissal highly probable. Even if successful, damages in small claims court are limited. Kisaragi's stated goal, however, transcends legal victory; they aim solely to force public acknowledgement of this "hidden dimension," regardless of the court's decision.
This case highlights the blurry line between challenging gameplay and alleged deceptive practices, presenting a fascinating, albeit unlikely, legal battle.
