From Software is well known for the studio’s unusual approach to multiplayer. It’s a tradition that began with Demon’s Souls and continues through to the recently released Elden Ring. Unfortunately, it’s practically a law of the internet that trolls will flock to any kind of online interaction.

Some Elden Ring trolls found an unusual way to abuse the game’s Dark Souls-style messaging system. They have begun placing massages at the base of ladders to prevent other players from climbing.

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As every From Software fan knows, its games employ a unique system for the players to communicate with each other. While they can’t talk to each other directly, the game lets players leave Messages for others to find. However, Elden Ring players read messages with the same use key as other interactive objects, such as ladders. As a result, trolls can abuse the system to block other players from accessing certain areas. Non-trolls can avoid the problem by going offline or by disabling Messages in the game settings. However, there is no system to let players delete individual messages.

Elden Ring ladder

The idea behind the Message system is that players can warn others of traps, lead them to hidden Elden Ring items, or give them advice for difficult battles. However, it’s perhaps unsurprising that many players choose to abuse this system. Most long-time Dark Souls players are likely familiar with other players leaving some version of “Try jumping” on the edge of a fatal drop. Other trolls might try to lure players into traps or waste their time with false clues about hidden rooms or treasure.

Still, those messages are primarily on the level of harmless pranks, and fans remain split on the issue. Some From Software fans despise them, but other players think they are funny and endearing. However, there is a difference between mostly-harmless trolling and directly preventing other players from enjoying the game. Some Elden Ring players have taken to social media sites like Reddit to complain about this issue. Unfortunately, however, there is little that players can do to remove these obstructive messages beyond opting out of the system entirely.

To combat trolling, From Software introduced a system where players can vote on whether a given message is helpful. However, there’s no option to dismiss an unhelpful Message and no system to keep the game from showing one with an overwhelmingly negative rating. Either option would fix the problem. Hopefully, From Software will patch one or both of these features into the otherwise critically acclaimed Elden Ring.

Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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