CI Games Shares Logs: Lords of the Fallen 2 Didn't Copy Nightreign

The CEO of CI Games has firmly shut down accusations that Lords of the Fallen 2 copied character designs from FromSoftware’s upcoming Elden Ring: Nightreign. Following a wave of intense scrutiny online, Marek Tymiński took the unusual step of releasing internal development logs to prove that his studio’s work predated the public reveal of the massive Elden Ring expansion by several months. In a statement addressing the controversy, Tymiński called the plagiarism claims "100% false" and emphasized that while his team respects FromSoftware, they do not copy other studios. 

The controversy kicked off earlier this week on Jan 7, 2026, shortly after CI Games and developer Hexworks shared concept art for a new enemy unit in the sequel: a "Crescent Host" soldier loyal to the moon goddess Menasilde. Gamers on X and Reddit immediately noticed that the character, sporting silver armor with blue cloth accents, a full-face helmet, and a massive serrated greatsword resting on one shoulder, bore a striking resemblance to "Wylder," the cover character class recently revealed for Elden Ring: Nightreign. 

Users pointed out that the color palettes, weapon stances, and helmet designs were uncannily similar, sparking a heated debate about artistic integrity in the "Soulslike" genre. To be fair to the critics, Lords of the Fallen has always worn its inspirations on its sleeve. Even the most ardent defenders of the franchise admit that the games lean heavily into the aesthetic established by Dark Souls, sometimes to a degree that invites skepticism. 

Internal Logs Reveal the 'HallowedBro' Timeline

Many felt that the developers had finally gone too far when the "Crescent Host" was unveiled. The visual overlap between the Crescent Host and Wylder was undeniable to fans, and given the timing, many assumed Hexworks had simply lifted the design from their more famous competitor.

However, Tymiński responded to the backlash by publishing internal Slack logs to establish a clear paper trail, effectively debunking the timeline of the accusations. The data provided by the CEO shows that the armor design, which the team internally referenced as "HallowedBro," was actually finalized in a conversation dated July 17, 2024. 

Furthermore, the logs show that the full character model was integrated into the game engine by Oct 23, 2024. Tymiński noted that these dates were over five months before Elden Ring: Nightreign was officially announced, making it impossible for his team to have plagiarized the design.

Despite the controversy, the studio is moving forward aggressively with the sequel. Tymiński has previously described Lords of the Fallen 2 as a "declaration of war" within the genre, aiming to build on the commercial success of the 2023 predecessor, which sold over one million copies in its first ten days. The game is currently scheduled for a 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via the Epic Games Store. 

Recent gameplay shown at The Game Awards 2025 highlighted brutal mechanics like limb dismemberment and intense boss fights against enemies, including the "Heartroot Warden," proving the studio is confident that the game will stand on its own merits, regardless of the comparisons.