Nintendo’s latest moves against the creators of Palworld are so unusual that even patent attorneys are calling them desperate attempts to win the lawsuit.

When Palworld launched early last year, it became a sensation on Steam and Xbox, but its massive success came with controversy, mainly due to its similarities with the Pokémon franchise. Nintendo didn’t miss the opportunity and soon filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair.

According to a recent report from Gamesfray, Nintendo has taken an extraordinary step: attempting to rewrite one of its own patents in the midst of ongoing litigation. Patent expert Florian Mueller, with over 15 years of experience, described the move as “bizarre,” and it’s rarely seen in patent lawsuits.

The case centers on three Nintendo patents allegedly used in Palworld—two relating to monster capture and one to the ability to change mounts. Pocketpair’s defense points out that similar mechanics have appeared in earlier games, and Nintendo never took legal action in those cases. In fact, there’s evidence that Palworld’s mount-changing system was demonstrated six months before Nintendo even filed its relevant patent, weakening the company’s position in Japanese courts.

Attempting to modify a patent mid-case, especially using unclear language, signals that Nintendo may realize its original claims are weak. As reported by Windows Central, patent specialists see this as a risky and desperate move, as it could actually backfire by introducing ambiguity into the complaint. For now, the dispute remains in Japan—Nintendo has not yet filed a formal lawsuit in the United States.

Source: 3djuegos