An Elden Ring player, Nora Kisaragi, filed a lawsuit against Bandai Namco and FromSoftware in Massachusetts small claims court. Kisaragi alleges that significant game content is intentionally concealed through the games' high difficulty, misleading consumers. This claim, announced on 4chan, asserts that FromSoftware games hide "a whole new game" within their challenging gameplay.

Kisaragi's argument rests on the premise that the difficulty level masks undiscovered content, citing datamined material as evidence. Unlike others who attribute this data to cut content, Kisaragi believes it's deliberately hidden, pointing to vague hints within FromSoftware's works as supporting evidence. This includes references to Sekiro's art book and statements by FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki. The core of the lawsuit is the assertion that players paid for inaccessible content without awareness of its existence.

The lawsuit's viability is questionable. Even if hidden content existed, dataminers would likely have uncovered it. The presence of unused assets in game code is common practice, often due to time constraints or development decisions. Furthermore, Kisaragi lacks concrete evidence, relying on subjective interpretations of developer statements.

While Massachusetts small claims court allows individuals over 18 to sue without legal representation, the case's success hinges on the judge's assessment. Kisaragi could attempt to argue under consumer protection laws, claiming deceptive practices. However, proving intentional deception and consumer harm will be extremely difficult without substantial evidence. Even if successful, damages would be limited.

Despite the low probability of success, Kisaragi's stated goal is not monetary compensation but to force Bandai Namco to publicly acknowledge the alleged "hidden dimension." The lawsuit's outcome remains uncertain, but its unusual nature has generated considerable online discussion.