Soulsborne Fans Erupt as Gamescom 2026 Debuts Draw ‘Gachaslop’ Backlash on Reddit

Gamescom Opening Night Live was anything but lackluster, thanks to the fact that a lot of major titles, along with huge updates to The Witcher series (a remaster and an expansion), were announced. However, fans of FromSoftware’s long-running Souls genre seemingly left the event disappointed, thanks to the blatant copying of iconic elements from games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring.

FromSoftware Fans Notice Nodus Fall’s and Tides of Annihilation’s Souls-Inspired Elements

The most talked-about reveal of the night, at least for Souls fans, came from HoYoverse, the studio behind Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, which used Gamescom to reveal Nodus Fall, a dark-fantasy action title built in Unreal Engine. However, rather than the usual vibrant, anime-inspired visuals the developer is known for, this one leans into a grim, decaying world where “divine authority has crumbled, and order has collapsed“. Players take on the role of a Weaver, banding together with others to bring down mythic bosses.

On paper, the concept sounds like a reasonable upgrade for a studio branching into new genres. Unfortunately, when finally showcased, fans immediately were able to catch the visual similarities to FromSoftware’s catalog. Several Reddit users pointed out that a boss resembled Elden Ring’s Malenia, while another was similar in design to Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame, and Godfrey, right down to a lion-like companion.

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Moreover, Nodus Fall wasn’t the only newcomer accused of leaning too hard on the Soulsborne formula. Eclipse Glow Games also used Opening Night Live to debut a new story trailer for Tides of Annihilation, and fans were able to draw comparisons almost instantly, thanks to the introduction of a character that seems to be a direct copy of the iconic Fire Keeper from Dark Souls.

Why “Gachaslop” Is Building up to Be a Problem

To add more context, the backlash isn’t purely about aesthetics. Much of the frustration of users on Reddit centers on the recent trend of launching free-to-play and monetization-driven games adopting the same gloomy atmosphere and punishing combat cues, as well as the iconic elements of Soulsborne titles without understanding what made the originals work in the first place.

Bearing this in mind, users kept drawing comparisons between newly revealed characters and iconic figures like the Fire Keeper and Godfrey, arguing the obvious resemblance. The term Gachaslop itself is a blend of the word “Gacha”, referring to the loot-box-style monetization common in mobile and live-service games, with “Slop” being an internet slang for low-effort content.

A lot of users in comments also argued that FromSoftware itself draws on decades of dark-fantasy and gothic horror influences, and that using the same aesthetic as the studio should not automatically mean a theft has taken place. Others argued that the studio has always been open about the influence it draws on, with Hoyoverse, on the other hand, having a history of taking inspiration without contributing much to it.

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