Overview

• USPTO granted Patent No. 12,403,397 to Nintendo on September 2, 2025, covering a sequence where a player summons a “sub character” to engage enemies with context-dependent combat behavior.
• Nintendo also received Patent No. 12,409,387 for the smooth switching of riding objects, with reports noting Palworld has already adjusted related mechanics.
• The summoning patent was filed in March 2023 and approved without objection, prompting criticism from patent experts and questions about overlooked prior art.
• Nintendo and The Pokémon Company continue suing Palworld developer Pocketpair in Japan over alleged mechanic infringements; Pocketpair has disputed the claims but says it made compromises to keep development and distribution on track.
• Analysts note infringement would hinge on the patent’s specific combination of steps, yet warn the patents’ breadth and Nintendo’s discretionary enforcement could deter other developers from similar designs.