Nintendo claims Dark Souls 3 mod isn't valid prior art in Palworld's Pokémon patent case

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Pocketpair in Tokyo District Court over three Japanese patents related to creature-capturing mechanics in Palworld. Nintendo seeks injunction and $67,000 damages. Pocketpair defends using prior art including a 2020 Dark Souls 3 mod called Pocket Souls. Nintendo argues mods cannot qualify as prior art because they require underlying games. Patent analyst calls Nintendo's position "extreme" with broader implications for the modding community.