Nintendo has been granted a new patent by the US Patent Office that might strengthen its legal moves against Palworld developer Pocketpair. Caught by Games Fray, the patent was seemingly back in July 2024, and is part of a broader patent from back in December 2021.
The patent describes gameplay mechanics that involve a player using an item to capture another character while in the field. The patent also describes using these captured characters to do battle with other characters. The description of mechanics in the patent can be likened to several games in Nintendo’s Pokémon franchise.
However, with the patent’s distinction of “modes” in which players can use items to capture characters indicates that the patent is referencing Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which features more real-time Pokémon capturing in its core gameplay. Nintendo has already filed legal notices against Pocketpair for similar patents it holds in Japan.
The fact that Nintendo now has these patents in the US means that the company can now continue its legal battle against Pocketpair in the US. For context, Pocketpair’s Palworld also has players using items to capture Pals in the field, which can then be used for battles against other Pals or human enemies.
The patent describes one of these modes as one where a player would get a targeting reticule that would also reveal detail of “characters” that the player is aiming at. Actions can then be taken on these characters depending on what the player wants to do.
This is the most recent move by Nintendo, following one from back in November where it filed an injunction against Pocketpair, claiming that company has infringed on three of Nintendo’s patents.
For its part, Pocketpair seems keen to diversify its business. The company announced back in January that it will be getting into game publishing. One of the first game announcements as part of this move is a title developed by Tales of Kenzera: Zau developer Surgent Studios. The company later revealed that its moves into game publishing stems from it wanting to provide indie developers with more economic freedom to be able to make the games they want to.
