Overseas Players Accuse miHoYo of Copying Elden Ring in New Game 'Origin Knot'

Summary

At the opening night of Gamescom, miHoYo unveiled "Origin Knot," a dark fantasy co-op action game that marks a major departure from its typical anime-style titles. Developed with Unreal Engine 5, it is miHoYo's first photorealisic 3D action game, drawing from global mythologies and focusing on multiplayer combat. Players take on the role of "Weavers" to battle formidable foes in a chaotic primordial era. The stark contrast with miHoYo's usual bright aesthetics instantly drew attention, but soon after the reveal, overseas players began accusing the game of plagiarizing FromSoftware's "Elden Ring" in atmosphere, combat mechanics, and boss fight design. The debate has split communities: some highlight specific similarities, while others argue these are genre conventions. This controversy is significant because miHoYo is a global industry leader, and this game represents its bold attempt to enter the realistic action genre. The originality concerns could impact the game's reputation and miHoYo's future direction. For players, it raises questions about creativity versus imitation; for the industry, it serves as a reminder of the fine line between inspiration and copying, especially as more anime-style developers venture into AAA realistic titles. No release date has been announced, and further gameplay reveals are highly anticipated.