Nintendo has quietly secured a sweeping new US patent covering summoning mechanics in video games, a move that could affect hundreds of titles worldwide. Filed in March 2023 and granted in early September 2025, the patent describes a system where a player can summon a sub-character into a virtual space to battle enemies.
The development comes just days before the next Nintendo Direct, raising questions about how the company plans to use the patent and whether it will reshape future games.
