New Nintendo Patent Application Possibly Targeting Palworld Mobile

by

Nintendo is attempting to obtain a patent for touchscreen technology that’s related to its current legal battle with the creators of Palworld, Pocketpair. If approved, this patent could help Nintendo argue that the mobile version of Palworld also violates their intellectual property, but so far, Nintendo hasn’t been successful in getting the patent granted.

A lawsuit filed in September 2024 claims that the game Palworld copies patented gameplay features from Nintendo and The Pokemon Company, specifically how players capture creatures and switch between them as mounts. The game developer, Pocketpair, has already made some changes to Palworld in an update released around mid-2025 to address these claims. However, the legal case is still ongoing, and Nintendo continues to pursue the matter with related patent filings.

Nintendo Eyeing Another Prospective Anti-Palworld Patent

Nintendo is continuing to develop new gaming technology, recently filing a patent (2026-019762) for a touch-based monster-catching game. This system would allow players to move characters and use items with touch controls, both during and outside of battles, to capture monsters. According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, if approved, this patent could potentially impact several existing and future games, including the mobile version of Palworld developed by Krafton and Tencent’s Roco Kingdom: World. Roco Kingdom: World has become very popular in China, with over 15 million players on its first day in March 2026, though it hasn’t been released internationally yet.

Nintendo hasn’t been able to secure a patent for its application 2026-019762, despite recent changes. Japan’s Patent Office rejected it again, and the examiner indicated the idea isn’t inventive enough. Specifically, the examiner found that combining touchscreen controls, using items outside of battles, and success-based creature capture wasn’t a new or unique concept, but rather a predictable combination of existing gameplay elements. This means Nintendo hasn’t demonstrated a sufficiently original invention to warrant a patent.

Nintendo can revise its patent application now that it’s been rejected for a second time, but it’s unknown if they will. They faced a similar situation with another patent in late 2025 – it was initially rejected for lacking originality, but they later received approval for a modified, more limited version in February 2026. They might try the same strategy this time around.

Guess the games from the emojis.

Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)

Gamoji

Guess the game from the emojis.

Time Left: 00:00

Title

—

Clues

—

Results

0 POINTS
—
More Games
Answers

Title

—

— Clues

—

—

It’s uncertain if Nintendo will use a newly granted patent to bolster its case against Palworld, but it’s a possibility. Nintendo already changed one of its patents related to Palworld during the lawsuit, so seeking more related rights while the case is ongoing wouldn’t be surprising. This could further delay the court’s review, especially since Nintendo and Pocketpair don’t appear to be making progress toward a settlement after a year of legal battles.

Read More

2026-05-16 01:04