Nintendo Tries To Obtain Touchscreen-Specific Patent On Monster Capturing
Source: Slashdot
Background
Nintendo is attempting to secure a touchscreen‑specific monster‑catching patent that could be relevant to Palworld Mobile. The Japan Patent Office (JPO) initially rejected the application for lacking an inventive step over prior art, but Nintendo may appeal or amend the claims.
Patent Details
- Application Number: 2026‑019762
- Focus: Monster‑catching mechanics using a touchscreen.
- Related Patents: Part of the same family as two of the three patents Nintendo is already asserting against Palworld.
- Potential Targets:
- The upcoming Palworld Mobile game.
- Tencent’s Roco Kingdom: World (currently China‑only, likely to expand internationally).
The application was filed this year with a request for fast‑track review. The JPO’s response indicated that Nintendo’s claims lack an inventive step over existing prior art.
Current Status
- Amendments: Nintendo amended the claims in February and may amend them again.
- Possible Actions:
- Persuade the examiner.
- Appeal the decision.
- Abandon the application (unlikely).
The initial rejection was communicated on April 24, 2026. While initial rejections often invite further argument, this notice is particularly well‑reasoned, suggesting a challenging path forward for Nintendo.
Key Claim
The patent would cover a touchscreen‑controlled game where a player:
- Moves through “a field in a virtual space.”
- Uses “a capture item for capturing a field character.”
- Can summon “a battle character” to fight that creature.
During combat, the game would display “a plurality of commands including at least an attack command and an item command,” selectable via “an operation input using the touch panel.”
The central claim specifies that when the capture item is used during a battle or in a non‑battle state, the game performs a “capture success determination.” If successful, “the field character is captured and set to a state owned by the player.”