It is worth noting that the revocation of the patent is a non-final decision, which gives Nintendo some room to try and fight back and appeal the decision. Game Fray’s Florian Mueller has noted that it has two months to respond to the decision, and also the choice of asking for an extension.

Mueller has noted that the re-examination of the patent didn’t require the USPTO to look at any game to get to the conclusion that it was “obvious”. However, the proceedings have been made “somewhat complicated” by the USPTO not having looked at other games.

“It is all based on combinations of two or three prior art references in the form of published US patent applications,” he wrote. “Two of those earlier patents were filed by Nintendo itself, and one each by Konami and Bandai Namco.”

If Nintendo can successfully argue for 18 of the 26 patent claims, it has the opportunity to take legal action against other companies, citing that “a person having ordinary skill in the art (i.e., a game developer in this case) would not necessarily combine those different prior art references”.

It remains to be seen whether the company will decide to modify the application to make it narrower or abandon the patent application altogether. Nintendo had faced a similar issue with a patent application in Japan.

Back in November, the re-examination of US 12,403,397 was initiated by USPTO director John A. Squires, who said that he had “determined that substantial new questions of patentability have arisen,” from looking at older patents that also involved a player’s companion participating in fights alongside the player.

These patents were considered to be part of Nintendo’s larger legal strategy for dealing with Pocketpair’s monster-catching survival game Palworld. While the former has been battling the latter in Japanese courts for some time now, its filings to the USPTO have indicated a desire to curtail Palworld‘s popularity on a greater scale.

October 2025 saw another one of Nintendo’s patents—part of its ongoing legal dispute with Pocketpair—had been rejected by the Japan Patent Office (JPO). At the time, the JPO had cited prior art with games like the ARK series, Monster Hunter 4, and Pocketpair’s Craftopia already featuring “monster capture” mechanics as they were described in the patent.

At the time, Mueller had noted that the JPO’s decision, even if it weren’t non-final, wouldn’t be binding for the sake of Nintendo’s lawsuit against Pocketpair, which is being presided over by Judge Motoyuki Nakashima. Rather, it only led to the lawsuit’s delay. The rejection had also presented Nintendo with two distinct options: abandon the patent application altogether or try to appeal the rejection with a modified version of the application.

The announcement comes just days after we first started seeing an overwhelmingly positive critical response to the title, with its aggregated score on Metacritic sitting at 89 based on 68 critic reviews. Since its release, players have also seemingly loved the game, with 726 user reviews contributing to an average score of 8.5 out of 10.

A report from earlier this week also revealed that the success of Pokémon Pokopia has led to Nintendo’s share prices going up by around 10 percent. Along with this, the physical copies of title has also been quite difficult to find, with many US retailers running out of stock.

Jeffries analyst Atul Goyal called Pokémon Pokopia a “viral hit”, and noted that it helped in counteracting “memory cost headwinds” that had been worrying Nintendo’s shareholders. The game has also contributed to boosting Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware sales momentum.

Tokyo Securities analyst Hideko Yasuda called Pokémon Pokopia a “dark horse”, noting that it was “totally off people’s radar, making its popularity a positive development.” He went on to say that its popularity “from Japan to Canada” shows how much global appeal the game has.

Pokémon Pokopia was a surprising game ever since it was first unveiled, since it strays away from the classical style of games one would expect from the franchise and focuses more on gameplay in the vein of Animal Crossing. Players take on the role of a Ditto that has transformed to vaguely look like a young human. Right from the beginning, players will have to get their hands on a variety of resources, which can then be used to create tools and even a home.

Along the way, players will get to find and befriend other Pokémon, each of which is equipped with their own unique abilities. Bulbasaur, for example, can make more grass grow, which can be harvested for resources. If you would prefer to clear the land, however, you can make use of Charmander’s fire skills to clear the land.

Game director Takuto Edagawa had spoken about the game’s general runtime of between 20 and 40 hours for its main story. However, he also noted that there is plenty for players to do even after they roll credits.

“The whole concept is to create the world with Pokémon and live with the Pokémon. However, as an average, it’ll be about 20 to 40 hours, but it would really depend on how the players play the game…There’s more things to experience after the end roll,” he said.

“So it depends on what you mean by contents, but I believe that players are encouraged to and will be motivated to continue to play the game.”

For more on Pokémon Pokopia, take a look at its gameplay trailer from back in February.

On Metacritic, it currently has a 89 Metascore based on 50 reviews, which currently makes it the highest rated Pokémon game on the site (just above Pokémon Y on the Nintendo 3DS). Some choice quotes include VGC, who called it an “excellent life simulation game that takes the best bits from the champions of the genre and evolves into something that Pokémon fans, and cozy game fans will love.”

Game Informer called it “a game of wonder, exploration, and revitalization, delivering a cosy, satisfying experience with no threat of danger.” Meanwhile, IGN said it’s “a real treat: an enjoyable building and town simulator that capitalizes on the charming personalities of its monsters in a way that appeals to both the creative and collector alike.”

Perhaps the highest praise comes from GameSpot, which said it’s a “combination of the design sensibilities of Animal Crossing and Dragon Quest Builders, but by melding those two structures and fusing them with Pokémon, it compensates for each one’s weaknesses.”

Some of the more positive points include solid writing, excellent world design with many secrets, and more. Among the few complaints are grinding in the late game, somewhat underwhelming rewards from exploring side areas, and whatnot. However, most reviews praised the game’s cozy feel and repurposing of classic Pokémon mechanics into an enjoyable gameplay loop.

Pokémon Pokopia launches on March 5th for Nintendo Switch 2. The story can take anywhere between 20 and 40 hours to complete, but Omega Force says that there’s plenty to explore in the post-game. If it turns out to be a huge success, you have to wonder if Nintendo will further expand on it, similar to the Animal Crossing franchise.

Discussing the first entries in the storied franchise, he said that Red and Blue’s Kanto region’s similarity to real-world Japan was based on the idea of making an adventure close to a player’s own life. “I’ve always believed connecting the world of Pokémon with the real world brings even more exciting possibilities,” he said. “And for many players, the game experience connects to real-life experiences, such as catching insects, fishing, raising animals, or growing plants.”

Speaking about new technologies, Ishihara discussed the possibility of a world where Pikachu “could jump onto the table right in front of you.” Discussing augmented reality (AR) tech, he acknowledged that, while novel, the concept might become boring after a while. “I feel that people would find it more fun to walk around the real world, work up a sweat, or take a walk with a Pokémon that has a mind of its own.”

As for what the future might hold for Pokémon, he acknowledged that his answer of wanting to “keep making fun games” might be broad. However, he noted that the success of the series comes down to people enjoying the games.

“I believe what we must continue to do is keep making fun games,” he said. “It might sound broad, but it all comes down to whether people play our games and find them enjoyable; that’s not something we can dictate. Sustaining that is what’s important, and it’s OK if everything else changes.”

Ishihara’s statement comes just days after The Pokémon Company, along with Nintendo, unveiled the next pair of mainline entries in the franchise – Pokémon Winds and Waves. Slated for release in 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, the games were unveiled with a trailer showcasing a world that features a variety of different biomes, like forests and beaches, as well as a new trio of starter Pokémon: Browt, Pombon and Gecqua.

The official website for Pokémon Winds and Waves has also confirmed that the upcoming titles will be open-world, with descriptions mentioning islands along with a “vast ocean”. Thanks to this more open structure, players will also get to find Pokémon living alongside their environments, with unique ecosystems having developed between them.

In the meantime, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen have recently been released on Nintendo Switch for $20 each. The titles are Game Boy Advance remakes of the first generation of Pokémon games, which were originally released on Game Boy all the way back in 1996.

As for other Pokémon games in development, take a look at the latest gameplay trailer for Pokémon Pokopia.

Why is this a big deal? Because Treehouse: Live shows focus on hands-on gameplay and run for longer than your usual Direct. True enough, this upcoming show will last about 80 minutes, so if you’ve been on the fence about either game, this is your chance to get a more in-depth look.

Pokémon Pokopia is available on March 5th for Switch 2 and offers a rather unusual set-up for the franchise. You control a Ditto masquerading as a human, befriending other Pokémon and essentially engaging in life-sim activities. There’s crafting, farming, and more across multiple biomes with a 20 to 40-hour story and post-launch content.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is available on March 26th and serves as an upgrade to the acclaimed 2023 platformer. It features a new single-player story where players take on the Koopalings to retrieve the Bellabel Flowers, Assist Mode, and Bellabel Park, a suite of multiplayer attractions.

The day of this Pokémon Presents also coincides with the release of Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed on Nintendo Switch. The titles will be enhanced versions of the Game Boy Advance classics, and will be priced at $19.99 each. While neither Nintendo nor Game Freak have provided too many details about the enhancements made, the Nintendo eShop description for the title confirms that it will feature wireless trade and battles through the Pokémon Wireless Club. In terms of visuals and gameplay, however, the titles will seemingly look just like the originals.

As for other things we might see at the Pokémon Presents, one of the likeliest candidates is Pokémon Pokopia, which is slated for release on Nintendo Switch 2 on March 5th. The title was unveiled back in September, and presents an entirely new premise. Players take on the role of a Ditto that has transformed itself to look vaguely like a young human. It also has elements of the survival crafting genre, since players will have to explore the world to get their hands on resources to craft equipment, and even build a home.

A major twist in the formula is that players will also encounter other Pokémon, which can be befriended and brought home. These Pokémon will, in their own way, help out with the growth of your home by, for example, Squirtle watering your crops, or Charmander clearing out grass with its fire abilities.

Pokémon Pokopia director Takuto Edagawa recently also confirmed that, while the game will take players between 20 and 40 hours to finish, there is still plenty to do after the main story. “It would really depend on how the players play the game,” he said. “There’s more things to experience after the end roll.”

“So it depends on what you mean by contents, but I believe that players are encouraged to and will be motivated to continue to play the game.”

The last major release in the Pokémon franchise was Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which came out on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 in October 2025. While the game itself was quite successful, Game Freak also released a DLC for it, dubbed Mega Dimension. Leading up to its December launch, Game Freak had been revealing some of the new Pokémon encounters that players would have, including Mega Lucario Z, and Mega Zeraora.

For more details about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, check out our review. And if you want more details on the last mainline release in the series, here’s our review of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which came out on Nintendo Switch back in 2022.

In an interview with IGN ahead of the game’s March 2026 release on the Switch 2, Takuto Edagawa gave a pretty open-ended response to a question about the average time it would take to “complete” Pokopia, a sentiment seemingly reflected in the game’s design. “The whole concept is to create the world with Pokémon and live with the Pokémon. However, as an average, it’ll be about 20 to 40 hours, but it would really depend on how the players play the game…There’s more things to experience after the end roll.

“So it depends on what you mean by contents, but I believe that players are encouraged to and will be motivated to continue to play the game.”

That’s a fair assumption to make, considering that you’re meant to just chill on your island with all your Pokémon buddies once you manage to give them a good enough reason to leave their lives behind to join you. Pokopia could be a relaxing vacation for long-time fans who want something besides combat, and the thought of even more content once the story wraps is enticing. Maybe there are a few Legendary Pokémon that will appear, or new ways to customize your buddies.

Pokémon Pokopia is slated for a March 5 release on the Nintendo Switch 2.

While Nintendo itself is yet to confirm this, the new video released by the company outlines how Game-Key Cards can be used on the Nintendo Switch 2. Throughout the video, the sample game cartridge used for this demonstration is a mock-up of the Pokémon Pokopia Game-Key Card. If it does end up being released as a Game-Key Card, Pokémon Pokopia will be the first first-party title on the Switch 2 to do so. Previous first-party releases like Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza all used regular game cartridges with no additional downloads required.

Pokémon Pokopia was first unveiled during a Nintendo Direct back in September. The title was unveiled with a trailer, showcasing its overall premise and some of its gameplay. Players in Pokémon Pokopia take on the role of a Ditto that has taken the form of a vaguely young human. In this form, players can explore the world and get their hands on various resources like wood and rocks that can then be used for crafting.

What sets Pokémon Pokopia apart from other survival crafting titles is the fact that players will also get the encounter other Pokémon in the world, which can then be befriended to give Ditto access to their own unique abilities. For example, getting a Charmander’s abilities will allow players to burn down their surrounding area to clear out a forest, with the area then becoming more suitable for building on. Similarly, a Squirtle’s abilities can be used to ensure that plants grow in a healthy way by getting access to water.

The full range of Pokémon abilities that can be used is currently unknown. However, the reveal trailer did indicate that players would be able to befriend quite a few Pokémon who can then live in the settlements crafted by the Ditto. Through this, the Pokémon can also be used to automate some of the more mundane parts of gameplay, like collecting new crafting materials.

As for the fact that the physical release of Pokémon Pokopia might end up being a Game-Key Card, Nintendo had previously stated that first-party titles would not make use of the feature. “We currently have no plans to use game-key cards for Nintendo-developed titles,” said Nintendo UK in a statement back in May. Since Pokémon Pokopia is being developed by Game Freak in collaboration with Omega Force, it might not strictly be considered a first-party release, however.

In the meantime, there have been other developers from across the industry that have been using Game-Key Cards for their titles. In fact, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, which is making its way to the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 22, will also be getting a physical release on the console through Game-Key Cards.

Spatial distortions are essentially emerging throughout Lumiose City, and if The Outer Worlds 2 is any indication, that’s probably not a good thing. As the player and Team MZ investigate, they happen upon Ansha, who guides them through the new Hyperspace dimension. As a reflection of Lumiose City, it features wild Pokémon with levels exceeding 100, presenting a strong end-game challenge.

Hoopa can help even the odds, but not for free. You’ll need to discover berries that Ansha will bake into doughnuts for those power-ups, and naturally, some of the best berries reside in Hyperspace.

Other notable additions include Mega Evolution guru Korrina alongside Mega Chimecho and Mega Baxcalibur. The latter requires participating in online Ranked Battles for the necessary Mega Stone, however.

If the DLC isn’t your jam, then good news – starting now, the Mystery Gift feature will provide a Diancite Stone. You can use this to gain access to the “Shine Bright Like a Gemstone” side mission to catch the Legendary Diancie (which can then be Mega Evolved).

The core bug affecting the first Rogue Meta Evolution battle in Pokémon Legends: Z-A only occurs if the player’s Pokémon Boxes become full before the fight. If the boxes had not been at any point before being filled up, subsequent Pokémon capture events “will always fail”. Similarly, a side mission that rewards players with a Pokémon will end up getting completing without the reward.

The other bug is much more difficult to actually execute; in some side missions, if a move hits its target at the exact time when the in-game day switches to night time, the target becomes impossible to hit afterwards. This means that the entire side mission can’t be progressed any further.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A was released on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this month. Much like its predecessor Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Z-A revolves around players capturing Pokémon and exploring their surroundings. This time around, the game takes place in the Kalos Region, and more specifically in Lumiose City. As players explore the game’s world, capturing and battle Pokémon along the way, they will also have to face off against Rogue Mega Evolutions of Pokémon, which are much tougher challenges than other things that players might face along the way.

The title proved to be an incredible hit right off the bat, with The Pokémon Company announcing through a press release last week that it had sold more than 5.8 million copies of Pokémon Legends: Z-A in the title’s first week alone. While this sales figure might be lower than the last mainline entry in the franchise – Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – it is still an impressive launch regardless.

When it comes to regional performance, Pokémon Legends: Z-A fell short of its predecessor’s sales performance in Europe by around 28 percent. It was still the best-selling game for its launch period in the region, however. Sales figures for the week ending on October 19 also indicated that the latest title sold quite a few more units on the Nintendo Switch 2 than the original Switch.

As for the US, recent sales data has indicated that Pokémon Legends: Z-A has been the biggest physical launch of the game in the country since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom back in 2023. Reports have indicated that a major part of sales of the game can be attributed to the Nintendo Switch 2 console bundles that were launched alongside the title.

For more details about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, check out our review, where we gave the game a score of 8 out of 10. We praised its detailed depiction of Lumiose City, as well as its real-time action battle system, while criticising the overall weak presentation, especially when it comes to its visual aspects.