Nintendo Patents Watch

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Knowledge-based discourse

Stackable DS(?) Patents

With the new combined-display GameShare patent, guess I’ll address the recent dual-screen patent that’s been going around.

From patent US20250261319: FIG. 16 shows an exemplary illustrative non-limiting drawing of a schematic front view showing a configuration of the electronic device in a second connection state.
From patent US20250261319: FIG. 6 shows an exemplary illustrative non-limiting drawing of a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of an electronic device according to a second embodiment.

US20250261319 is a continuation of WO2023203802 (filed in 2022, published in 2023). It was already reported then, so I didn’t see the need to revisit. A few notes to help clarify:

  • There’s a related patent WO2023203801; both were filed in Japan, China, and Europe. The US continuation is a late addition.
  • These patents aren’t really about dual-screen (sorry to disappoint), but the coupling mechanism, wireless communication method, and button configuration of two stackable devices.
  • People linking this to Switch 2 probably didn’t read it fully. There’s no coupling mechanism or antenna placement as described in the patent on NS2. Physically it simply won’t work.
  • Those saying that patents won’t become products are not exactly right either. Nintendo isn’t doing R&D for fun. A device looking like this might not be commercialized, but the learning can be applied in other products.

[Originally posted on 2025-08-17 Pacific Time]