Nintendo patent character summoning mechanics just became a reality, and the gaming industry is not happy about it. On September 2, 2025, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company received U.S. Patent No. 12,403,397, which essentially gives them legal ownership over the concept of summoning a “sub character” and letting it fight on your behalf.
This isn’t just another corporate patent filing – it’s a potential game-changer that could affect how developers create games for years to come. The timing is particularly interesting, as it comes amid Nintendo’s ongoing legal battle with Palworld developer Pocketpair.
What Exactly Does the Nintendo Patent Character Summoning Cover?
The patent describes a specific gaming mechanic where players can move a main character around a virtual space, summon a separate “sub character,” and then engage in combat based on where that helper appears. If the summoned character lands on an enemy, players can control the battle directly. If not, the character moves automatically and fights when it encounters enemies.
While this sounds like it’s specifically targeting Pokémon-style gameplay, the language is broad enough to potentially cover many other gaming mechanics. Patent analyst Florian Mueller called it “a fundamental threat to creativity and innovation in the games industry.”
5 Popular Games That Use Similar Mechanics
The Nintendo patent character summoning could theoretically affect these existing games:
- Elden Ring – Players can summon spirit ashes to fight alongside them
- Monster Hunter Stories – Features creature summoning and battle mechanics
- Persona series – Built around summoning personas to battle enemies
- Dragon Quest series – Has used monster summoning mechanics for decades
- Shin Megami Tensei – Pioneered demon summoning gameplay before Pokémon existed
Why This Patent Matters for Game Developers
Patents in gaming have always been controversial, but this one takes things to a new level. The concept of summoning creatures or characters to fight has existed in various forms across multiple media for decades – long before Pokémon was even conceived.
The patent was originally filed in March 2023 but wasn’t granted until this summer. This timing coincides perfectly with Nintendo’s legal strategy against Palworld, suggesting the company is building a patent wall to protect its intellectual property.
What makes this particularly concerning is that Nintendo doesn’t have to enforce the patent universally. Unlike trademarks, which companies risk losing if they don’t defend them, patent holders can choose when and against whom to enforce their rights.
The Palworld Connection
While this Nintendo patent character summoning isn’t directly connected to the Palworld lawsuit (which is happening in Japan), the timing isn’t coincidental. Nintendo has been systematically building its patent portfolio in the U.S., likely preparing for a broader legal strategy.
Palworld developer Pocketpair has already been forced to make changes to their game, including removing certain summoning abilities to avoid patent infringement claims.
What This Means for Future Games
The gaming industry thrives on innovation and building upon existing mechanics. When companies can patent basic gameplay concepts, it creates a chilling effect that stifles creativity and innovation.
Developers now have to consider whether their summoning mechanics might trigger a lawsuit from Nintendo. This could lead to less innovative games or force developers to create awkward workarounds that hurt the player experience.
The patent system was designed to protect genuine innovations, not broad concepts that have existed in various forms for decades. The fact that the USPTO granted this patent raises serious questions about how well patent examiners understand gaming mechanics and their historical context.
Industry Response and Future Implications
The gaming community’s response has been overwhelmingly negative. Many developers and industry analysts see this as Nintendo trying to eliminate competition rather than focusing on improving their own games.
While challenging granted patents is possible, it’s become increasingly difficult under current USPTO leadership. This means the Nintendo patent character summoning mechanics could remain a threat to developers for years to come.
The broader implications extend beyond just summoning mechanics. If companies can successfully patent basic gameplay concepts, we could see a rush of similar filings that fragment the gaming industry and make innovation more expensive and risky.
Frequently Asked Questions
What games could be affected by Nintendo’s character summoning patent?
Potentially hundreds of games that feature summoning mechanics, including Elden Ring, Persona series, Monster Hunter Stories, Dragon Quest, and many indie titles that use similar gameplay concepts.
When was the Nintendo patent for character summoning filed?
The patent was originally filed in March 2023, granted in summer 2025, and officially issued on September 2, 2025, with the number 12,403,397.
Does Nintendo have to sue everyone who uses summoning mechanics?
No, unlike trademarks, patent holders can choose when and against whom to enforce their rights. Nintendo could selectively target specific games while ignoring others.
Can this patent be challenged or overturned?
Yes, but it’s difficult and expensive. The USPTO under current leadership has made it increasingly challenging to overturn granted patents, even questionable ones.
How does this relate to the Palworld lawsuit?
While this U.S. patent isn’t directly part of the Japan-based Palworld lawsuit, it appears to be part of Nintendo’s broader strategy to build patent protection in multiple jurisdictions.
What should game developers do about this patent?
Developers should consult with intellectual property lawyers when designing games with summoning mechanics and consider whether their implementation might infringe on Nintendo’s patent claims.
Could this affect games that were released before the patent was granted?
Potentially yes. Patents can be enforced against existing products, though there may be some protections for games that were already using these mechanics before the patent was filed in March 2023.
Looking Ahead
The Nintendo patent character summoning controversy highlights a fundamental problem with how the patent system handles software and gaming innovations. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, we need better frameworks for protecting genuine innovation while preserving the collaborative and iterative nature that makes gaming great.
For now, developers will need to navigate this new landscape carefully, balancing creative freedom with legal risks. Whether this patent ultimately stifles innovation or gets successfully challenged remains to be seen, but its very existence sends a troubling message about the direction of intellectual property in gaming.