In its latest move to register new patents that it can then use against Palworld developer Pocketpair in lawsuits, Nintendo has seemingly been trying to stop the game from appearing on smartphones. According to Games Fray’s Florian Mueller, a new patent registered by Nintendo has been made public by the Japan Patent Office (JPO), this time around revolving around monster-catching gameplay mechanics on touchscreen devices. As the report notes, the patent will allow Nintendo to target Palworld Mobile, as well as Tencent’s Roco Kingdom: World.
The patent application, number 2026-019762, was filed by Nintendo this year, along with a request to the JPO to fast-track its review process. However, the patent office has seemingly gone back to Nintendo, noting that it needs an “inventive step” for the patent to be applicable to works that could be considered “prior art”.
Mueller has also pointed out how the language used in the patent’s claim can be too broad for the JPO. One of the claims essentially describes how a device’s touchscreen can be used to partake in gameplay that involves using items to capturing “field characters”, using “battle characters” owned by the player to engage in combat, and a list that would give players a list of actions they can execute, with a touch panel being the main input method.
Noting that this is simply just a general monster-catching rule set, Mueller says that there is “nothing technologically innovative about it.”
The JPO examiner has cited their own list of prior art that would make the patent difficult to approve, including ARK: Survival Evolved, PUBG Mobile, and a list of prior patent applications showcasing well-known art.
As part of its rejection, the JPO said that examples it provided showed that, “when a Monster Ball is used, success or failure is determined, and the Pokémon can be captured only if the result is success, is well-known art in games featuring Pokémon,” which would disqualify it owing to the existence of prior art.
As for Nintendo’s next move, the company can choose to abandon its pursuit of the patent application. However, Mueller notes that Nintendo is “more likely” to try to persuade the examiner to rule in its favour. “In many patent examination processes, the initial rejection is essentially just an invitation to present one’s best arguments,” he writes. “Here, however, the rejection notice is so well-reasoned that it will be an uphill battle for Nintendo.”
April saw the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) also rule against Nintendo’s attempts at trying to patent gameplay mechanics that involved summoning allies to fight alongside the player’s character. The rejection came after a re-examination had been ordered in November 2025. While a non-final decision, the revocation of the patent has still been a major step against Nintendo in its attempts to litigate Pokémon-styled gameplay as seen in popular titles like Pocketpair’s Palworld.
In the meantime, Pocketpair is said to be working alongside Krafton to develop Palworld Mobile under PUBG Studios. The company is aiming to launch the game on Android and iOS some time in 2026. However, it hasn’t yet revealed a more concrete release date.
