Beyond Palworld: A Major IP Battle Looms for Nintendo as Genshin Impact Devs Face Patent Infringement Claims

Nintendo, the undisputed titan of monster-catching games, may be facing an intellectual property challenge far more intricate than the recent 'Palworld' controversy. While Pocketpair’s survival sim sparked debate over artistic similarities, a new claim by a prominent IP expert points to a potentially clearer infringement from an unexpected source: HoYoverse, the powerhouse studio behind 'Genshin Impact' and 'Honkai: Star Rail'.

Richard Hoeg, a seasoned attorney specializing in video game intellectual property, has brought to light an alarming similarity between a mini-game in HoYoverse’s upcoming title, 'Zenless Zone Zero,' and a specific Nintendo patent.

This isn't about the overall 'look and feel' of characters or environments, but rather the very mechanics of how players capture in-game creatures.

The patent in question, US Patent No. 8,632,394, describes an innovative system for a 'mini-game to catch monsters' that incorporates several distinct elements.

According to Hoeg’s analysis, this patent details a user interface (UI) where a rotating circle or bar is presented, requiring the player to press a button within a designated target zone. Crucially, the patent also outlines visual feedback mechanisms, such as the UI changing color or the captured monster's receptacle shaking, to indicate success or failure.

These elements are strikingly familiar to anyone who has played modern Pokémon titles, particularly the catching mechanics introduced in 'Pokémon Legends: Arceus'.

Hoeg meticulously compares screenshots and clips from 'Zenless Zone Zero's' monster-catching sequence with the exact descriptions within Nintendo's patent.

His conclusion is stark: the HoYoverse mini-game, which involves hitting a moving target within a circle to capture an 'ether creature,' exhibits an 'extremely close' and 'clear' infringement of Nintendo’s patented technology. He asserts that the design elements, from the moving indicator to the visual confirmation of a catch, directly mirror the patent’s claims.

This development places Nintendo in a precarious position.

While the 'Palworld' saga primarily revolved around potential copyright and trademark issues concerning character design, the 'Zenless Zone Zero' accusation points to patent infringement – a different, often more complex, legal battleground. Patent law protects the functional aspects and inventions, making the resemblance of gameplay mechanics a much more direct challenge.

The implications are significant.

For developers creating games with creature-catching mechanics, this patent represents a 'hard-to-avoid' obstacle. HoYoverse, a studio with immense resources and global reach, now finds itself at the center of an IP storm that could set a precedent for how gameplay mechanics are protected and licensed within the industry.

This is not just a skirmish but potentially a major front in the ongoing war for intellectual property in the gaming world, forcing Nintendo to potentially defend its innovations on multiple fronts.