As I wander through the swirling mists of gaming innovation, the tale of Honkai: Nexus Anima unfolds like a vivid dream. HoYoverse’s latest creation, teased in the blooming days of May 2025 and fully unveiled in late August, calls to me with its familiar faces—the Traveler from Genshin Impact, now riding a menagerie of fantastical beasts across skies and lands. Yet, beneath this enchanting surface, a storm brews, one that echoes the dark clouds that gathered over Palworld not long ago. Nintendo’s shadow looms large, its revised patent JP7528390 casting a wide net that could ensnare not just one game, but many in this ever-evolving landscape. I feel the tension in the air, as if the very soul of creativity is being tested by the cold hand of legal boundaries.
In my reflections, the gameplay footage shared during Honkai: Nexus Anima’s beta test applications strikes a chord—characters fluidly mounting and dismounting creatures, a spectacle that Florian Mueller, the astute patent analyst from Games Fray, deems a "clear infringement" on Nintendo’s core claim. But why now? Ah, the answer lies in the twists of the Palworld lawsuit, where Nintendo, in a bold move, amended that very patent during proceedings. The revised JP7528390 expands beyond smooth transitions to cover summoning and boarding mounts in myriad scenarios, a broadening that Mueller warns is "a greater threat to the games industry at large." It’s as if a castle’s walls have grown taller overnight, trapping more within.
I recall the Palworld saga vividly—Pocketpair’s defense that they never implemented such creature-switching, only for Nintendo to respond with this expansive revision. If upheld, it could ripple out, affecting countless titles in the creature-collection genre. 🎮 But in this dance of innovation and law, I wonder: Will HoYoverse face the same fate? The possibilities swirl like autumn leaves:
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Potential Impact on Games: More studios could find themselves in legal crosshairs.
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Industry Reaction: Developers might innovate less, fearing patent traps.
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Player Experience: Games like Honkai: Nexus Anima could be delayed or altered.
| Aspect | Before Patent Revision | After Revision |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Focused on smooth switching | Covers summoning and boarding broadly |
| Legal Risk | Limited to specific cases | Threatens many games |
| Innovation | Encouraged creativity | May stifle new ideas |
The Honkai: Nexus Anima beta footage, with its scenes of aerial and ground mounts, may not explicitly show "smooth" transitions, but under Nintendo’s new definition, that detail fades into irrelevance. Mueller’s earlier words haunt me—he called the Palworld case "a clear case of bullying," and now, as I peer into the future, I see Honkai: Nexus Anima caught in the same web. What secret formula did HoYoverse unlock? Perhaps it’s one of ambition, but also vulnerability.
Nintendo’s strategy feels like a chess game played in shadows; they’ve even sought a similar patent in the U.S., though not yet wielded internationally. Pocketpair’s court battle could tip the scales—if they win, invalidation or narrowing of JP7528390 might follow, freeing the industry. But if not, the chains tighten. As a player, I savor the gacha mechanics and creature-collecting thrills, yet a part of me mourns the potential loss of unfettered imagination. ❓In this ever-shifting realm, where does inspiration end and infringement begin?