An Elden Ring player, Nora Kisaragi, has filed a lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware in Massachusetts small claims court. The lawsuit alleges that the developers misled consumers by concealing significant game content, claiming a "whole new game… hidden inside" due to the games' high difficulty.

Kisaragi's argument centers on the idea that the challenging gameplay obscures intentionally hidden content, citing datamined material as evidence. This contrasts with the common understanding that such data represents cut content, not intentionally hidden features. The plaintiff lacks concrete evidence, relying instead on perceived "hints" from developers in other FromSoftware titles, such as Sekiro and Bloodborne. The core claim is that players paid for inaccessible content without knowledge of its existence.

The lawsuit's viability is questionable. While Massachusetts small claims court allows individuals 18 or older to sue without an attorney, the plaintiff must demonstrate a violation of consumer protection laws by proving deceptive practices and resulting harm. The lack of concrete evidence makes dismissal highly probable. Even if successful, damages would be limited.

Despite the long odds, Kisaragi's stated goal is not financial compensation but to force Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the existence of this alleged "hidden dimension," regardless of the lawsuit's outcome.

The gaming community largely views the lawsuit as absurd, given that extensive datamining would likely have revealed such hidden content. The presence of unused assets in game code is common industry practice and doesn't inherently signify intentional deception.