Nintendo’s “Hail Mary” in Palworld Lawsuit: Mid-Case Patent Edit Raises Eyebrows

🎮 Nintendo Goes “Hail Mary” in Patent Lawsuit Against Palworld: A Deep Dive

Nintendo has recently escalated its legal battle against Palworld developer PocketPair by engaging in unconventional tactics—such as debating patent wording mid-lawsuit. Legal experts describe this as both desperate and revealing, raising questions about Nintendo’s case strength and broader industry implications.

1. ⚖️ What’s Going On?

Nintendo is suing PocketPair in Japan for allegedly infringing three patents related to:

Creature-capturing mechanics akin to Pokémon’s Poké Balls

Mount-switching abilities involving airborne transitions

Alleged gliding mechanics tied to holding a Pal creature

In July 2025, Nintendo requested amendments to one of its critical patent claims mid-litigation at the Japan Patent Office (JPO), introducing oddly specific language like “even when”. This strange wording has drawn sharp criticism from IP expert Florian Mueller, who finds it “bizarre,” “extremely contorted,” and likely a sign of a slipping case .

2. 🏛️ Why Is It Unusual?

Usually, patents are finalized before lawsuits begin. Altering a patent while a case is ongoing could:

Signal that the original claim was too weak

Introduce ambiguity and risk the patent’s validity

Be seen as a desperate “Hail Mary” move

Mueller notes this behavior often reflects a litigant scrambling to salvage their claim. Nintendo’s addition of phrases like "even when"—not typical in judicial patent language—suggests they’re hedge-fighting .

3. 🧩 PocketPair Pushback & Prior Art

PocketPair has responded by:

Demonstrating prior art (similar mechanics in earlier games)

Proactively updating Palworld—removing Pal gliding, mount-switching, and Pal Sphere summoning—to avoid direct patent overlap

These updates complicate Nintendo’s case, turning the game into a moving target.

4. 🎮 Is Palworld Still Thriving?

Yes—despite this legal storm, Palworld continues to flourish:

Frequent updates including high-profile collaborations like the Terraria crossover

Repeat appearances in Steam’s “Most Played” charts

PocketPair insists the changes aim to preserve game viability—not concede legitimacy to Nintendo’s claims .

5. 🤔 Expert Opinions & Industry Views

Florian Mueller emphasizes that Nintendo’s mid-case edits signal weakness in their case: he calls it "a desperate attempt to win by doing something odd"

GamesRant and Windows Central describe it as an unprecedented legal pivot

Industry watchers worry about patent trolling stifling creativity, with mounting criticism seen across forums like Reddit and GameFAQs

6. 🏛️ What’s at Stake?

For Nintendo

Protecting Pokémon’s core mechanics

Setting a precedent for enforcing IP rights in evolving game design

For PocketPair

Avoiding litigation damage and disruption to Palworld’s momentum

Reshaping mechanics to evade legal claims

For the Industry

Raises alarm over broad IP claims in game mechanics

Highlights tension between defending IP and preserving innovation

Opens debate on what should or shouldn't be patentable in games

7. 🔍 Final Analysis

Nintendo’s unusual legal maneuvers in the Palworld case—particularly the mid-lawsuit patent amendment—expose a case under pressure. While still possibly effective, these tactics risk credibility and set a troubling pattern around IP enforcement in gaming.