The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a non-final rejection of Nintendo's patent application for a game mechanic involving the summoning of sub-characters to assist in battle. The decision, reported by Games Fray, was based on the USPTO's finding that the claimed invention was anticipated or rendered obvious by combinations of two or three prior art references in the form of published U.S. patent applications.
Nintendo originally filed the patent application in March 2023. The USPTO initially approved the application in September 2025, but subsequently announced a re-examination of the patent in November of that year. The current rejection is not final, and Nintendo has a two-month window to respond to the USPTO's decision, with the possibility of extension should the company choose to appeal.
The patent at issue covers a gameplay feature where a main character can summon a sub-character to participate in combat, a mechanic seen in several Nintendo titles. The rejection comes at a time when Nintendo is actively engaged in litigation over similar gameplay elements.
In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair in the Tokyo District Court, alleging infringement of multiple patent rights. The complaint specifically targets Palworld, a game developed and released by Pocketpair, and seeks both an injunction against further infringement and compensation for damages.
Nintendo stated its intention to "continue to take necessary actions against any infringement of its intellectual property rights, including the Nintendo brand itself, to protect the intellectual properties it has worked hard to establish over the years."
Pocketpair acknowledged receipt of the lawsuit and indicated that it would begin legal proceedings and investigate the patent infringement claims. However, the company noted that it had not been notified which specific patents were allegedly infringed.
Despite the ongoing litigation, Pocketpair announced in September 2025 that Palworld would exit early access in 2026. The lawsuit encompasses patents related to monster capture and release mechanics, as well as mounts.
In response to the legal dispute, Pocketpair made several changes to Palworld. In May, the company patched the game's gliding mechanic, and in November 2024, it removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pal Spheres.
Following the May update, Pocketpair commented, "We remain involved in prolonged legal proceedings regarding alleged patent infringement. We continue to dispute these claims and assert the invalidity of the patents in question. However, we have had to make certain compromises in order to avoid disruptions to the development and distribution of Palworld."
The company further stated, "We understand that this will be disappointing for many, just as it is for us, but we hope our fans understand that these changes are necessary in order to prevent further disruptions to the development of Palworld."
In a related development, the Japan Patent Office denied Nintendo's patent application for its capture-and-release mechanic in October 2025.
The ongoing disputes highlight the complex landscape of intellectual property rights in the gaming industry, particularly as companies seek to protect innovative gameplay features across multiple jurisdictions.