What Is The Nintendo Palworld Lawsuit Update?

Today’s topic: Nintendo Palworld Lawsuit Update

Nintendo is not having a good time in court with Pocketpair, the company that created Palworld. According to GamesFray, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has rejected one of Nintendo’s patents on the grounds that the invention was not sufficiently original.

In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against the maker of Palworld, Pocketpair in Japan. They alleged that the way monsters are caught in the game and riding characters in the game infringe their patents.

The court case is going on. To complicate matters, Nintendo recently amended its patent claims. Some consider this move to be a tactic to strengthen their position. This Nintendo Palworld Lawsuit Update is crucial.

Few analysts claim that Pocketpair keeps altering the gameplay, thus making it difficult for Nintendo to provide evidence. Pocketpair says they have not infringed on any patents and the patents in question are not valid.

On September 18–19, 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair for patent infringements in Tokyo. The gaming industry was amazed and people started taking sides.

People are eagerly waiting for Nintendo Palworld lawsuit updates as this legal battle raises significant questions regarding the ownership of game ideas. The result could be a complete overhaul of how such disputes are ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌resolved.

In this article, we will talk about the following things:

• The background of the Nintendo Palworld Lawsuit.
• The timeline of the case.
• How has the litigation impacted the Palworld gameplay?
• The latest Nintendo Palworld Lawsuit update.

Therefore, if these are a few things that you want to know, keep on reading this blog till the end…

How Did The Nintendo Palworld Lawsuit Start?

On 19th September 2024, Nintendo accused Palworld maker Pocketpair of infringement of patent rights. Here’s a snippet from Nintendo’s press release:

Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Minami-ku, Japan; Representative Director and President: Shuntaro Furukawa, “Nintendo” hereafter), together with The Pokémon Company, filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against Pocketpair, Inc. (HQ: 2-10-2 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, “Defendant” hereafter) on September 18, 2024.

This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights.

In other words, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sue Pocketpair, alleging infringement of multiple patents covering mechanics like throwing objects to capture creatures, triggering combat via throwable devices, and riding or mounting creatures, all central elements in Pokémon titles.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt Palworld’s distribution and demands approximately ¥10 million (around USD 66,000) plus legal fees. According to Diario AS, this amount is the “sum of two different requests, about $66,000 (around €61,000 at the current exchange rate), to which we would have to add the costs incurred by the legal process and the delay thereof.”

In response, Pocketpair expressed that they were shocked as they did not have any idea what kind of patent they had infringed upon.

What Is The Impact Of The Lawsuit On The Palworld Company?

Due to pressure from the lawsuit, Pocketpair has implemented significant gameplay changes:

• November 30, 2024 (Patch v0.3.11): Removed the mechanic where players summon “Pals” by throwing Pal Spheres—considered too similar to Pokémon’s Poké Ball capturing method. Now, Pals appear statically beside the player.
• Upcoming Patch v0.5.5: Alters gliding—previously done by riding a Pal—so that gliding now requires a separate glider item. Pals may offer passive buffs but no longer serve as mounts.

According to Polygon, Pocketpair called these adjustments “disappointing” and asserted that they do not reflect an admission of wrongdoing but are compromises to prevent disruption of development and distribution.

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What Is The Nintendo Palworld Lawsuit Update?

In a rare turn, Nintendo amended the wording of one of the patents mid-lawsuit. According to Florian Mueller, an IP expert and former Blizzard consultant, this is telling—and “weird.”

Additionally, the patent in question (JP7528390) relates to riding or mounting mechanics, specifically smooth transitioning between creatures during gameplay (e.g., switching from a running creature to a flying one). Nintendo’s revised language, including terms like “even when,” appears tactically broad and convoluted. According to Gamesradar+, Mueller views it as a potential “Hail Mary,” suggesting Nintendo may be concerned about the patent’s validity.

Such mid-case modification of patents is uncommon and may signal efforts to strengthen Nintendo’s position—but it also exposes the original claims to increased scrutiny.

What Is Nintendo’s Legal Strategy?

Nintendo is no stranger to IP litigation. For instance, The Verge clearly states that throughout recent years, they’ve aggressively enforced copyrights and patents—suing ROM sites, emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx, and other entities distributing or facilitating unauthorized content.

The Palworld case stands out because it revolves around gameplay mechanics rather than direct visual or asset copying.

According to Bloomberg Law, Nintendo’s​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ effort to strike a decisive blow against its rival was met with a raucous response as the lawsuit centered on patented mechanics that appeared to be common practice in the gaming industry.

As a result, the case is now at the center of the debate about the extent of intellectual property rights in the gaming sector, particularly when the gameplay elements in question are simple or widely ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌used.

While past Nintendo litigation often targeted artworks, fan sites, or software, this case delves into functional aspects of game design, making the stakes particularly significant for creators and developers.

Read Also: Trademark Infringement: The Ongoing Intellectual Property Battle

What Are The Potential Ramifications Of The Lawsuit?

As of mid-2025, the Nintendo–Pocketpair dispute remains unresolved. Litigation is ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain. The outcome of this lawsuit could have wide-reaching implications:

• Nintendo: A successful case reinforces their hold over gameplay mechanics and serves as a deterrent to mimicry—even beyond graphics or story.
• Pocketpair and Other Developers: Even absent visual similarities, mechanics alone could trigger legal action—a landscape fraught with risk.

Additionally, IP expert Florian Mueller flagged that the amended patent could threaten other titles. For instance, Hoyoverse’s upcoming Honkai: Nexus Anima features creature mounts and gliding. Though no lawsuit has been filed yet, the broad patent might apply.

Pocketpair continues to fight the validity of Nintendo’s patents while making gameplay changes to minimize disruption. Nintendo’s mid-case patent amendments raise questions about their initial strength.

Whatever the result, the case underscores the legal risks surrounding game mechanic patents and sets a cautionary precedent for creative risk-taking within the gaming industry. Developers should now be mindful not only of aesthetic likeness but also of functional design when drawing inspiration from established franchises.