US Patent Office rejects Nintendo's 'summon subcharacter and let it fight' patent
GamesIndustry.biz • • technology
Key Points:
- The USPTO has rejected Nintendo's patent related to in-game character summoning, citing prior art references, though the decision is non-final and Nintendo can respond or appeal within two months.
- Nintendo filed the patent in March 2023, received initial approval in September 2025, but the USPTO initiated a re-examination in November 2025.
- In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Pocketpair in Tokyo for allegedly infringing multiple patents with the game Palworld, seeking injunctions and damages.
- Pocketpair acknowledged the lawsuit, plans to investigate the claims, and continues to dispute the patent validity while making gameplay changes to avoid disruptions.
- Despite ongoing litigation, Pocketpair announced Palworld's exit from early access in 2026 and has already removed features like Pal summoning to comply with legal pressures.
