Nintendo has secured a new patent that could significantly impact future games inspired by the Pokémon universe. Issued on September 2, 2025, the patent describes a game system covering “the fundamental gameplay mechanic of summoning a character and letting it fight another” within a video game.
The patent application was filed in March 2023 and approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office without any objections. The patent`s description and accompanying illustrations clearly point to Pokémon-like games. However, there is concern that its broad wording could potentially allow Nintendo to sue other companies if their games use even vaguely similar mechanics.
While it`s unlikely that Nintendo will sue major companies like Atlus and Square Enix over long-established franchises with summoning mechanics, such as Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, and Final Fantasy, the mere existence of such a patent could be demotivating for smaller studios, given Nintendo`s known litigious nature.
Palworld developer Pocketpair has been under Nintendo`s scrutiny since their game`s early access release. Nintendo sued the studio in Japan, stating it was seeking “an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages” on the grounds that Palworld infringed multiple patent rights—specifically patents No. 7545191, No. 7493117, and No. 7528390.
Pocketpair recently implemented significant changes in Palworld, such as removing Pal Spheres (monster-catching items very similar to Poké Balls) and the ability to glide with a Pal. Community manager John Buckley, discussing the ongoing lawsuit earlier this year, described the day they received the lawsuit as “very depressing” for the studio.