Nintendo Secures Patent for In-Game Character Summoning Mechanic

Nintendo has been awarded a patent for a gameplay feature that allows in-game characters to summon additional characters for support during battles. According to reports by Games Fray, the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted Nintendo patent number 12,403,397 on September 2, 2025, following an uncontested application submitted in March 2023. This patent, which covers a common mechanic found in numerous games, including those outside of Nintendo's portfolio, could potentially put games that utilize similar features at risk of infringing on Nintendo's copyright. The patented mechanic involves a computing device with a stored game, a character that can be moved within a virtual space, and the ability to summon a secondary character, referred to as a 'sub character,' such as a monster that can aid the player character. The logic behind the patent branches out into different scenarios, including summoning the sub character in the presence of another character for immediate battle or at a location without an opponent, and then engaging in an automatic battle. The implications of this patent for the gaming industry are significant, as it may prompt other developers and publishers to file their own patents for common in-game mechanics. As noted in the report, 'The '397 patent poses a fundamental threat to creativity and innovation in the games industry,' affecting not only existing games with this mechanic but also future releases. This development comes on the heels of Nintendo securing a $2 million judgment and injunction against a modder accused of violating Nintendo's copyright by trading and selling circumvention devices.