Elden Ring Disability Lawsuit Filed over Inaccessible Content

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 deceptively concealed significant game content, claiming a "whole new game… hidden inside" Elden Ring and other FromSoftware titles. This hidden content, Kisaragi argues, is intentionally obscured by the games' notoriously high difficulty.

While FromSoftware games are known for their challenging yet fair gameplay, Kisaragi contends that this difficulty masks the existence of substantial, undiscovered content. The plaintiff cites datamined content as evidence, rejecting the common interpretation that this material is simply cut content. Instead, Kisaragi insists it represents intentionally hidden gameplay. Their argument rests largely on perceived "constant hints" within the games and related materials, referencing examples from Sekiro and Bloodborne. In essence, the lawsuit claims consumers paid for inaccessible content without knowledge of its existence.

The lawsuit's viability is highly questionable. Even if hidden content existed, it's highly probable dataminers would have already uncovered it. Furthermore, the presence of unused game assets is common in game development due to time constraints or design changes, and doesn't necessarily imply intentional deception.

While Massachusetts small claims court allows individuals over 18 to sue without an attorney, the case hinges on proving "unfair or deceptive practices" under consumer protection law. Kisaragi faces a significant challenge in providing substantial evidence for a "hidden dimension" within the game and demonstrating consumer harm. The lack of concrete evidence makes dismissal highly likely.

Despite the low probability of success, Kisaragi’s stated goal isn't monetary compensation but rather to publicly force Bandai Namco to acknowledge the existence of this purported hidden content. The limited potential damages awarded in small claims court further underscore the unconventional nature of this legal action.