Nintendo Scrambles to Rewrite Patent Mid-Lawsuit Against Palworld as Case Weakens

In a dramatic twist in the ongoing legal war against Palworld developer Pocketpair, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have taken the desperate step of rewriting one of their own patents during active litigation. The move is raising eyebrows across the industry, with many seeing it as a sign that Nintendo's case is on shaky ground.

Palworld, often described as "Pokémon with guns," launched in early access in January 2024 and took the gaming world by storm. Within a week it sold 8 million copies, and in just one month, it surpassed 25 million players. Its world, filled with creatures called Pals and gameplay mechanics involving capturing, riding, and fighting with them, instantly drew comparisons to Nintendo’s Pokémon franchise. But while players praised its fresh and irreverent take on the monster-collecting genre, Nintendo clearly saw something else: a threat.

After months of passive-aggressive corporate statements, Nintendo officially sued Pocketpair in September 2024. The lawsuit focuses on three Japanese patents allegedly infringed by Palworld, including ones tied to monster capture, release, and character riding systems. Yet, these patents were only filed in 2024, months after Palworld had already hit the market. They are derivative of older patents dating back to 2021, suggesting Nintendo went out of its way to reengineer legal tools to aim directly at Pocketpair after the game's breakout success.

Pocketpair has maintained its innocence while smartly adjusting the game. Most notably, a May update replaced the original gliding mechanic that let players hang from flying Pals with a new equipment-based glider system. This design change was likely intended to dodge Nintendo’s flimsy riding system claims, and it may have worked too well.

Now, in what many view as a panic move, Nintendo has altered the wording of one of its patents in the middle of the court proceedings. According to Japanese patent expert Ryo Arashida, Nintendo added phrasing that makes the patent broader and more aggressive in scope. The term “even when” was inserted, a choice that is rarely used in patent law due to its vague and subjective nature. Legal observers suggest this tactic signals that Nintendo fears the original patent is vulnerable to being ruled invalid.

In other words, Nintendo is not just playing legal hardball. It is rewriting the rules mid-game. And this is not just speculation. Legal analyst Florian Mueller pointed out that rewriting a patent during a lawsuit is a nuclear option, typically employed when a company believes their patent will not survive judicial scrutiny in its original form.

Let’s be clear. Nintendo did not launch this suit to protect player creativity or game quality. It did so to crush a competitor that succeeded in a space it has long monopolized. Ironically, while Nintendo was busy weaponizing its lawyers, Pocketpair kept building. The indie dev rolled out new features and even announced a crossover with Terraria, showing no signs of backing down.

What is at stake here is more than one game. It is about whether large corporations can retroactively build legal weapons to strike down emerging talent. If Nintendo succeeds, it sets a dangerous precedent where innovation is not rewarded but punished when it steps on the wrong toes.

So the question remains: is this about intellectual property or about control? As the case unfolds, all eyes will be on the courtroom. But gamers and developers alike should be paying attention to what this really means for the future of creative freedom in the industry.

What do you think? Is Nintendo protecting its legacy or just being a bully? Sound off in the comments.