Nintendo Went NUCLEAR – Is Palworld Just The Beginning?

Summary

Nintendo has recently secured a controversial US patent covering the core gameplay mechanic of summoning characters to fight in video games, sparking concern across the gaming community. The patent, broad enough to potentially affect numerous franchises—from Pokémon to Digimon, Final Fantasy, and World of Warcraft—raises fears of stifling creativity and innovation. Critics argue this legal strategy could allow Nintendo to dominate the industry, discouraging competition and pushing companies to focus on legal battles rather than improving games. The video urges gamers to reconsider supporting Pokémon until quality improves and to explore alternatives like Palworld, highlighting the broader implications for the future of gaming.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nintendo's biggest asset is not its games, but its legal department, with recent patent actions demonstrating its aggressive approach towards the gaming industry.
• 😀 The most recent patent granted to Nintendo involves the basic mechanic of summoning a character to battle another, a concept widely used in many games.
• 😀 This new patent could potentially stifle creativity and innovation in the gaming industry by giving Nintendo control over a fundamental game mechanic found in numerous popular games.
• 😀 Nintendo's patent is so broad that it could impact games like Pokémon, Persona, Digimon, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft, and even indie games like Monster Sanctuary and Cassette Beasts.
• 😀 The patent's broad nature raises concerns that it could lead to other companies patenting generic game mechanics, which may result in legal battles that prevent smaller studios from competing.
• 😀 Critics argue that Nintendo's actions represent a shift toward corporate control over the gaming industry, prioritizing legal action over creative development.
• 😀 The patent granted is seen as a potential roadblock to other developers, especially with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office making it harder to revoke patents.
• 😀 To counter Nintendo's legal strategy, the speaker urges gamers to stop supporting Pokémon games and instead back alternatives like *Palworld*, which does not rely on patents to restrict competition.
• 😀 The patenting of core gameplay mechanics by large companies like Nintendo could have a long-term detrimental impact on the gaming industry as a whole, reducing room for innovation.
• 😀 While Nintendo's financial might gives them an advantage in legal battles, the speaker hopes that companies like Hoyoverse will challenge Nintendo's monopolistic moves in the legal arena to preserve industry diversity.

Q & A

What is described as Nintendo's biggest asset in the video?

Nintendo's legal department is described as their biggest asset due to their aggressive patenting and IP protection strategies.

What recent patent did Nintendo receive in the United States?

Nintendo received US Patent #12,43,397, which covers the gameplay mechanic of summoning a sub-character in a video game and letting it fight another character.

When was the patent application for summoning characters filed?

The related patent application was filed in March 2023 and granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office on September 2, 2025.

What are the key steps outlined in Nintendo's new patent?

The steps include: 1) Having a video game; 2) Featuring a character in a virtual space; 3) Summoning a sub-character; 4) Initiating a battle with another character if one is present; 5) Summoning a character even if no enemy is present; 6) Sending a sub-character into a direction for auto-battle.

Why is the new patent controversial in the gaming community?

The patent is considered overly broad, potentially covering many existing and future games that involve characters battling, which could stifle creativity and innovation.

Which games are potentially affected by this patent?

Games like Palworld, Shinigami Tensei (Persona series), Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Temtem, Yo-kai Watch, Monster Sanctuary, Cassette Beasts, World of Warcraft, Diablo, League of Legends, Elder Scrolls, Fable 2, and many others could be affected.

Does this new patent affect the ongoing Palworld lawsuit?

Technically, this latest patent does not directly affect the ongoing Palworld lawsuit, but it could become relevant in future legal considerations.

What concerns exist regarding the patent system and revoking patents?

It is increasingly difficult for petitioners to have patents revoked in the United States, which could allow Nintendo to enforce this patent more easily and limit legal challenges.

What advice does the speaker give to gamers regarding Nintendo games?

The speaker advises avoiding upcoming Pokémon games until they improve in quality and instead supporting competitors like Palworld and Hongkey Nexus Anima.

What broader impact could Nintendo's patenting strategy have on the gaming industry?

Nintendo's approach could encourage other companies to aggressively patent game mechanics, reduce competition, and shift focus from game quality to legal protection and monetization strategies.

Who does the speaker cite as having a good perspective on the patent situation?

The speaker cites Co-C Carnage on Twitter, who argues that game development is iterative and that Nintendo's broad patent approach is harmful to industry creativity.