Nintendo Patents Watch

(Not legal advice) When AI can clone your game faster than you can make it, consider protecting yourself by filing for copyrights, trademarks, and/or patents—within your means, of course. Costs of doing so in the US:

• Copyright $45+
• Trademark $350+
• Provisional patent $65+
• Nonprovisional patent $400+ (but you may need a lawyer)

Supplementary notes:

• Registering your copyright before an infringement occurs will qualify you for statutory damages and attorney’s fees. It’s better to do it early.
• Trademark can be used to protect names (word marks), characters (design marks), and even “look and feel” (trade dress).
• Game mechanics are seldom patentable. Modern game patents are mostly filed to protect processes; e.g., steps you take and components you use.
• It is true that many fly-by-night cloners may not be deterred by any of these. However, in the rare occasions that a clone becomes wildly popular, you’d at least have a chance to sue to recoup some money. An imperfect but easy-to-understand example: ConnectU got $65M from Facebook.

(Image sources in alt text)

[Originally posted on 2026-10-03 Pacific Time]

US patent publication 20260295416 discloses a minor (and mildly interesting) detail of the Switch 2 audio system.

A game is free to set different volumes for 1) built-in speakers, 2) HDMI output, and 3) audio output—headphone jack, Bluetooth audio, etc. For instance, the speaker volume can be set higher than the TV volume to compensate for the size difference. What’s more, the three volume settings are sent along with GameShare streams, so that they are still operative on the guest devices.

[Originally posted on 2026-10-03 Pacific Time]

To any journalists reading this: Many Nintendo trademark applications you saw in the US and Japan are not “renewals”, but for different reasons.

Ⅰ. NoA has been filing Section 66(a) applications to extend protection of international trademarks into the US, even when the same trademarks are already registered here. Take “EVER OASIS” for example, it was registered in 2017 (img 1 below) and isn’t up for renewal yet; the application that made the news recently was filed on 2026-08-18 for §66(a) specifically (img 2). Paper Mario Color Splash and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE are other recent §66(a) applications. Also note that Nintendo’s been doing the same in some other territories too. See the Ever Oasis example in Canada (imgs 3-4).

[Section below updated on 2026-10-05]

Ⅱ. In Japan, Nintendo’s been steadily filing trademark applications for the English names of past games, even though their Japanese names are already trademarked and don’t need to be renewed. A few recent examples include:

• SWAPDOODLE, filed on 2026-09-25 ↔ イラスト交換日記, 2016-11-22
• DRILL DOZER, 2026-09-14 ↔ スクリューブレイカー 轟振どりるれろ, 2005-05-30
• BATTALION WARS, 2026-05-21 ↔ 突撃！！ファミコンウォーズ, 2005-09-08

Generally speaking, these are boring legal maneuvers for boring legal reasons, and probably not very newsworthy.

(Image sources in alt text)

[Originally posted on 2026-10-03 Pacific Time]

On the same day that the GameCube Controller’s wireless certificate was updated in Japan, Nintendo also filed to update the certificates (imgs below) for the Switch 2 console, Joy-Con 2, and Pro Controller 2 in Taiwan, adding a new manufacturer—Foxconn EV Energy & Component in Vietnam. This is the second Foxconn Group subsidiary (Foxconn Technology Co. is the first) and the second Vietnamese factory (Hosiden is the first) for Switch 2 assembly.

Some 2024 reports indicated that the site would produce Switch 1 and its accessories from 2027. Since then, the only reports and hiring ads for the site that I could find only mentioned manufacturing of EV parts (hence the subsidiary name), monitors, and printers. So the new regulatory filing shows that the plan is moving forward, and has been upgraded to producing the Switch 2 system. It’s reassuring that Nintendo is further diversifying the supply chain.

Here is the list of Switch 2 system assemblers according to the revised NCC filing:

• Hong Fu Jin, China (Foxconn Technology Co. subsidiary; FTC itself a Foxconn Group subsidiary) → Switch 2, Joy-Con 2, Pro Con 2
• Qingdao Mitsumi, China (MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary) → Joy-Con 2, Pro Con 2
• Zhuhai Mitsumi, China (MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary) → Switch 2
• Hosiden Vietnam, Vietnam (Hosiden subsidiary) → Switch 2, Joy-Con 2
• Foxconn EV Energy & Component, Vietnam (Foxconn Group subsidiary) → Switch 2, Joy-Con 2, Pro Con 2
• Minebea Cambodia, AMM Division, Cambodia (MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary) → Pro Con 2
• Minebea Cambodia, SYS-O Division, Cambodia (MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary) → Switch 2, Joy-Con 2, Pro Con 2

Notes:

• All listed assemblers may or may not manufacture all listed products simultaneously.
• The NCC website doesn’t provide direct links. Click here and search for the model numbers to see their certificates.

[Originally posted on 2026-10-02 Pacific Time]

There are evidences suggesting that the new battery-replaceable GameCube Controller and Nintendo 64 Controller will be available outside of Europe:

1. The Japanese wireless certificate of BEE-021 GCN Controller was updated on Sep 10, adding a new model number BEE-021(-01)

2. A Canadian radio certificate for HAC-043(-01) was approved on Jul 22; HAC-043 was the N64 Controller

Since “(-01)” is already used to denote known EU products, such as the new Switch 2 console BEE-001(-01), these two should be the controller revisions scheduled to release in early 2027.

[Speculation] Unlike the EU Switch 2 (costlier to produce) and Pro Controller 2 (-16% battery capacity), it makes sense to sell the revised GCN and N64 Controllers globally.

H/t X user _akatama_

[Originally posted on 2026-10-02 Pacific Time]

Seeing the cartridge images in the new “Family Computer & Nintendo Entertainment System” photo book (img above) motivates me to explain the masthead image of my Bluesky account (img 1 below). As many of you know, some early NES cartridges—circa 1985—actually contained a Famicom cartridge board plus a 60-to-72-pin adapter (img 2).

Nintendo soon stopped doing this, and only released true 72-pin cartridge boards for NES. Less known is that Nintendo filed a patent in 1986 for a standalone adapter that could’ve allowed any standard Famicom cartridges to be played on the NES console (img below).

There probably wasn’t enough commercial value, however, so Nintendo never brought it to market. It didn’t stop some 3rd parties from releasing similar products though.

Image sources in alt text; link to original patent here.

[Originally posted on 2026-10-01 Pacific Time]

The long-awaited Game-Key Card patent has been published in EU and China. Key points below (no pun intended):

• GKC contains title info, icon image, app ID, vendor ID, cartridge ID, “etc.”
• When inserted for the first time, console downloads app and icon from server; downloaded icon replaces the GKC icon
• Afterward, internet is no longer needed, unless for updates
• App can only be executed when the GKC with associated cartridge ID is inserted
• Console “periodically” checks the insertion status and cartridge ID; if either one is negative, the app is ended
• The eShop app and GKC app are different versions downloaded from different servers (so GKC can be supported even if eShop is down; this also explains why GKC app can be copied locally)
• If either eShop or GKC app is already stored in memory, the system will warn you before you download the other
• The eShop, GKC, and Game Card apps may share a save file or have separate saves (presumably determined by the dev? unspecified in patent)
• Otherwise, GKC mostly shares the hardware design of Game Card (read more here)

Source: Patent publication EP 4813482

[Originally posted on 2026-09-30 Pacific Time]

Depending on the zoom level in Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, the cursor operates differently (img 1 below). Patent application US 19536850 details the gazing point behavior, object types treatment, and mode-switching continuity (imgs 2-4).

One interesting detail is that the cursor collision works by detecting the pixels expanding out of an object (img 1 below), and the pixels are embedded with extra info such as the building name (img 2).

Related: Tomodachi Life’s relationship UI

[Originally posted on 2026-09-29 Pacific Time]

Patent publication US 20260288257 describes the mouse/gyro mode switching and gyro correction for Joy-Con 2.

• Gyro switching to mouse (img below): the mouse sensor hole is blocked AND the long axis is roughly horizontal

• Mouse switching to gyro (img below): the mouse sensor hole is unblocked AND the long axis tilts to 30°

• During mouse operation, gyro drift may accumulate; so when switching to gyro mode, the cursor may not align with the controller’s pointing direction (img 1 below)
• Thus, a gyro correction is performed when switching from mouse to gyro (img 2): rotate forward axis to match long axis, and flatten the pointing direction

Relate: Joy-Con 2 mouse/stick mode switching

[Originally posted on 2026-09-29 Pacific Time]

The latest beta firmware enables the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max to emulate a Switch 2 Dock. When connecting to the Switch 2 with a USB-C cable (DP Alt Mode input), it becomes a 1440p external monitor (imgs 1-3). 120Hz input is possible with some other sources, but presently the Dock emulation only supports 60Hz. HDR and VRR are unsupported. There’s also a ~90ms latency with the current firmware (img 4). I don’t know if the refresh rate and latency can be improved by future firmware updates.

Obviously this high-end tablet will cost you more than a portable monitor, therefore it isn’t a budget option. However, you’re in the market for an Android tablet, it might be worth considering.

[Originally posted on 2026-09-29 Pacific Time]

Mobapad announced that M12 Pro, featuring HD Rumble 2 and mouse mode, will launch on Oct 28. Interestingly, they developed their own haptic actuator instead of using Alp Alpine’s. Since NYXI’s HDR2 emulation is reportedly not fully identical to the genuine article, I’m keen on reading reviews of M12 Pro.

P.S.: On Bilibili, a Mobapad rep replied to a user inquiry for an M12 with silent rubber dome buttons instead of clicky mechanical microswitches: “Yes, it’s already in planning, but will take some time.”

[Originally posted on 2026-09-28 Pacific Time]

Nintendo’s R&D of game controller continues unabated. A recent patent publication discloses an input button that affords three controls: button touch, analog press, and full press.

• Button touch: A keycap electrode (40 in imgs below) detects finger resting on top
• Analog press: Distance between a movable electrode (30-33) and ground electrode (13) is translated to an analog readout
• Full press: When the movable electrode converges with a high potential electrode (15), a binary “on” is registered

The key innovation here is that all three inputs go through just one capacitive sensing channel (img below), thus using less parts and possibly cheaper to manufacture. Note that although the drawings show a face button, the invention can be applied to a shoulder button too.

Those who want to dig deeper, check out this button patent—filed in 2022—that can detect button touch, full press, and analog post-press pressure (how hard you push down). As to what Nintendo would do with button touch inputs, see this trackpad emulation patent.

[Originally posted on 2026-09-27 Pacific Time]

Like an in-real-life RPG, Nintendo Museum staff will tell you a secret side quest—only if you visit the venue 23 times.

Source

[Originally posted on 2026-09-27 Pacific Time]

Wake up babe, new Masahiro Sakurai patents just dropped.

These patent applications describe the City Trial mode in Kirby Air Riders. It gives an overview but focuses more on the rubber-banding mechanics that helps players who are walking (not riding a machine) or have less items—via machine placement, access, and protection, governed by a “handicap index”.

Patent publications: US20260284536 and US20260284537

[Originally posted on 2026-09-24 Pacific Time]

I’m very happy to be proven wrong regarding the prospect of Switch 2 VRR on third party docks. A few on Amazon US already claim to support VRR. I bought one and it indeed works as advertised (imgs 1-2 below). Note that you may need to contact the seller for the latest firmware.

Judging by the firmware updater that I received, this particular dock uses Chrontel CH7218A DP-to-HDMI converter (diagram below). In theory, any other 3rd party docks with the same IC should all be able to support Switch 2 VRR after being updated.

[Originally posted on 2026-09-24 Pacific Time]