The gaming community is abuzz with concerns that HoYoverse's latest project, Honkai: Nexus Anima, might encounter legal challenges reminiscent of those faced by Palworld. Early gameplay footage suggests potential infringement on intellectual property rights that Nintendo has been aggressively protecting through recent litigation.

Initially revealed in May 2025, Honkai: Nexus Anima represents HoYoverse's venture into the creature-collection genre, featuring familiar elements from Genshin Impact alongside new gacha mechanics. The game entered its official announcement phase in late August 2025, coinciding with the opening of beta test registrations that generated significant interest among the gaming community.

As beta applications commenced, HoYoverse released gameplay footage demonstrating characters interacting with various aerial and terrestrial creatures. Patent expert Florian Mueller from Games Fray analyzed this footage and concluded that the game appears to violate the same creature-switching patent that Nintendo is asserting against Pocketpair's Palworld.

The legal landscape surrounding this patent recently shifted when Nintendo amended JP7528390 during ongoing proceedings. The revised patent broadens its scope beyond smooth transitions between rideable creatures to encompass summoning and mounting systems across diverse gameplay scenarios. This expansion means that even games without seamless switching mechanics might now fall under the patent's protection.

The situation highlights how Nintendo's patent amendment creates wider implications for game developers worldwide. Mueller emphasized that the company has effectively expanded its intellectual property claims, potentially threatening numerous titles within the creature-collection and mount-based gameplay genres.

Pocketpair's defense in the original Palworld case argued that their implementation differed significantly from Nintendo's original patent description. This defense strategy apparently prompted Nintendo to broaden their patent language, creating a more comprehensive legal framework that could affect countless other games.

The outcome of the Palworld lawsuit could establish important precedents for the industry. Should Pocketpair successfully defend against the allegations, it might lead to patent invalidation or narrowing that would benefit other developers. Conversely, a Nintendo victory could empower the company to pursue similar claims against other titles, including Honkai: Nexus Anima.

Latest Game Information