Nintendo has been granted a new patent by the US Patent Office that might strengthen its legal moves against Palworld developer Pocketpair.
Caught by Games Fray, the patent was seemingly back in July 2024, and is part of a broader patent from back in December 2021.
The patent describes gameplay mechanics that involve a player using an item to capture another character while in the field.
The patent also describes using these captured characters to do battle with other characters. The description of mechanics in the patent can be likened to several games in Nintendo’s Pokémon franchise.
However, with the patent’s distinction of “modes” in which players can use items to capture characters indicates that the patent is referencing Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which features more real-time Pokémon capturing in its core gameplay.