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Pocketpair has cited Monster Hunter 4G/Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda as examples of earlier games in its defense against Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s patent lawsuit over Palworld. The references support Pocketpair’s arguments that some patent claims are invalid in light of earlier game mechanics; Pocketpair also argues that Palworld does not meet certain claim requirements. These are the company’s legal arguments, not a court ruling.
What Nintendo’s lawsuit alleges
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair in the Tokyo District Court on September 18, 2024. In its public announcement the next day, Nintendo said the plaintiffs were seeking an injunction and compensation, alleging that Palworld infringes multiple patent rights. That announcement describes the plaintiffs’ allegation; it does not establish that a court found infringement. Nintendo’s announcement
Pocketpair said in November 2024 that the plaintiffs named Japanese patents 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390. It reported a demand for five million yen for each plaintiff, or ten million yen combined, plus late-payment damages. That was the amount Pocketpair said the plaintiffs were seeking, not a damages award. Pocketpair’s statement
How Monster Hunter and Zelda enter Pocketpair’s defense
According to Games Fray’s account of the court file, Pocketpair submitted invalidity contentions on February 21, 2025, citing a range of earlier games and game technologies. Monster Hunter 4G/Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda are among the references. Pocketpair’s position is that earlier material disclosed mechanics relevant to the challenged claims, either individually or in combinations that it argues undermine their novelty or inventive step. Games Fray’s report on the court-file material
#1 Best Overall
- Colossal roster - Take on the series' largest roster of monsters to date including all-new monsters, Deviant variants, and the mysterious new Elder Dragon Valstrax.
- Co-op multiplayer - join up and hunt online with up to three other hunters, or meet-up and play together via local play.
- Play anywhere! - with Nintendo Switch, for the first time gamers have the flexibility to either play online with friends on a TV in tabletop mode or play on-the-go in handheld mode.
- New level of challenge - “g” rank is introduced to test experienced hunters' battle tactics. Formidable versions of familiar foes enter the fields with different moves and abilities never before.
- Highly customizable gameplay - Expanding on the four Styles and supermoves called Hunter Arts introduced in Generations, two Styles are introduced for even further refined personalization options
| Reference | How it is used in the reported argument | What that does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Monster Hunter 4G/Ultimate | Listed among references Pocketpair reportedly combined with other prior material in arguments against a capture-related patent. | It does not mean the game by itself contains every element of the challenged patent claim, or that a court accepted Pocketpair’s argument. |
| The Legend of Zelda | Appears in combinations Pocketpair reportedly raised concerning a patent related to riding objects. | Its inclusion is not a finding that the games are legally equivalent or that the patent is invalid. |
Prior-art arguments do not require a cited game to be identical to Palworld or to reproduce an entire patent claim. The question in such arguments is whether earlier disclosures, alone or in combinations, bear on the validity of the specific claim. The available court-file reporting establishes that Pocketpair cited these games; it does not establish how the court will assess those arguments.
Pocketpair also disputes infringement claim by claim
The prior-art challenge is only one part of the reported defense. Pocketpair also argues that Palworld lacks or implements differently particular elements described in the asserted patent claims. Games Fray and Game Developer summarize arguments involving button inputs, selection modes, aiming, capture-success indicators, releasing combat characters, and boarding or switching rideable characters. Game Developer’s account of Pocketpair’s arguments
Rank #2
- Includes the base game and a Deluxe Pack Voucher that includes 15 different cosmetic add-ons.
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
Patent infringement turns on the limitations of the particular claims at issue, not simply whether two games share a broad genre or a familiar mechanic. Nintendo’s infringement allegations and Pocketpair’s invalidity and non-infringement responses remain opposing legal positions unless and until a court rules on them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the case’s status
As of October 8, 2026, the available reporting said an October 1, 2026 presentation of evidence had been scheduled and a court view was expected on November 9. It did not confirm the outcome of the October session. Those dates do not establish a judgment, so the result and current procedural status should be treated as unresolved. Games Fray
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The debut of the new “wirebug” mechanic allows for wire-based grappling actions that can be used to scale cliffs and other hard-to-reach areas, providing new traversal and aerial attack options.
- The game will introduce magnamalo, a menacing new flagship monster, as well as other new monsters like the shape-shifting aknosom, the amphibious tetranadon, and more.
- New hunting partners called palamutes can be personalized and used to ride across the terrain, providing players with all-new traveling and attack options.
- In addition to the plethora of solo and multiplayer quests, the immersive story mode will task aspiring hunters with discovering the secrets behind the puzzling “rampage” events that threaten kamura village.
- Play solo, or join up to three other hunters in local or online co-op play. The Nintendo Switch system also allows for hunting anywhere, anytime and with anyone!
Rank #4
- Raise Your Team: Build and raise a team of Monsties, forming kinships with iconic Monsters from the Monster Hunter series like Chatacabra and Rey Dau.
- Battle in Turn-Based Combat: Experience the strategic turn-based battles using the popular rock-paper-scissor system of Power, Speed, and Technical.
- Explore an Enhanced World: Enjoy new stylized 3D graphics that bring the Monster Hunter Stories series to life.
- Pre-order Bonus: Layered armor for Eleanor
Rank #3
- Refined Graphics: Originally released in 2016 on the Nintendo 3DS, players can now experience riding Monsties in stunning detail on larger screens, enhanced with improved modeling, textures, and lighting in high definition.
- Now Fully Voiced: Immerse yourself in the adventure with full Japanese and English voiceovers.
- Additional Language Support: Monster Hunter Stories will have additional language support, newly featuring Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and Arabic.
- Museum mode: Delve deeper into the world of Monster Hunter Stories through the newly added Museum mode, featuring the game’s background music and developer sketches.
- Included Title Updates (TU): Previously only available in Japan, players can now enjoy title updates, unlocking content from TU 1.20 and TU 1.30.
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