Messages left by other players in Elden Ring are like Schrödinger's cat, where tips exist in a sort of superposition until they are either verified as true or false. The system is designed to let players help each other, but a significant number of them that aren't jokes are just outright lies. With the prevalence of false information, the message system has introduced a paradox in which illusory walls and some of Elden Ring's essential items seemingly exist and do not exist at the same time in certain locations.
Schrödinger's cat is a popular thought experiment in the field of quantum mechanics. Created by Erwin Schrödinger in 1935, it is intended to highlight a paradox in what is known as a quantum superposition, in which an object can exist in multiple states combined (the superposition) until it is observed or interacts with the external world in some way. In order to challenge this view, Schrödinger posits an imaginary cat placed in a box with a vial of poison, which is rigged to be smashed open if an atom in a radioactive substance is measured to have decayed, with there being an equal chance that it will not decay.
According to a conventional interpretation of quantum mechanics, if the box were left alone for the course of an hour, the cat would be neither alive nor dead but would exist in a superposition in which it is simultaneously alive and dead. The author of this article does not claim to be an expert in quantum mechanics (far from it, in fact), but Elden Ring's thrill of the unknown hilariously - and frustratingly - brings up situations not unlike Schrödinger's cat. Messages either attempt to help or deceive in such abundance that some are almost meaningless, and direct observation is required to verify any piece of advice.
The point of Schrödinger's thought experiment was to point out a flaw in what is known as the Copenhagen interpretation, a (at the time) prevailing assessment of quantum mechanics that would result in the nonsensical alive-and-dead cat inside the box. Whenever a message in Elden Ring reads, "hidden path ahead," the supposed illusory wall is thrust into an impossible superposition where it is both existent and nonexistent. The only way for a Tarnished to uncover Elden Ring's secrets like the alleged illusory wall is to interact with it, thus removing it from the superposition and either confirming or refuting its existence.
Finding hidden items and passageways in Elden Ring wouldn't be such a confounding exercise in trust without the messages. Even those that are telling the truth are liable to have another message placed in front that says, "liar ahead." Many are genuinely helpful, especially those that warn of impended ambushes, but they only serve to lull the player into trustfulness before overwhelming cynicism once again takes over following the next ruse. FromSoftware's narratives have dealt with convoluted timelines and waking nightmares before, but its Elden Ring's game mechanics that are causing questions of quantum mechanics.
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