Nintendo has a total of 8788 patents globally, out of which 7194 have been granted. Of these 8788 patents, more than 69% patents are active. Japan is where Nintendo has filed the maximum number of patents, followed by the United States of America and Europe (EPO). Parallelly, Japan seems to be the main focused R&D center and also is the origin country of Nintendo.
Nintendo was founded in 1889 as a Nintendo Karuta by Fusajiro Yamauchi. Nintendo develops, manufactures, and sells household leisure equipment. The Company produces home use video game hardware and software products.
Do read about some of the most popular patents of Nintendo which have been covered by us in this article and also you can find Nintendo patents information, the worldwide patent filing activity and its patent filing trend over the years, and many other stats over Nintendo patent portfolio.
Nintendo Innovation Prediction Roadmap: 2025–2030
The insights and projections presented in this article are based on predictive analysis, current patent analysis that have been done, and publicly available information as of 2025. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the forward-looking statements are speculative and should not be interpreted as definitive strategic actions by Nintendo or its affiliates. This content is intended for informational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice.
Want to explore which innovation areas Nintendo is likely to focus on next and where its future patent surge could occur? Fill out the form to get the details.
How many patents does Nintendo have?
Nintendo has a total of 8788 patents globally. These patents belong to 3368 unique patent families. Out of 8788 patents, 6059 patents are active.
How Many Patents did Nintendo File Every Year?
Are you wondering why there is a drop in patent filing for the last two years? It is because a patent application can take up to 18 months to get published. Certainly, it doesn’t suggest a decrease in the patent filing.
| Year of Patents Filing or Grant | Nintendo Applications Filed | Nintendo Patents Granted |
| 2025 | 91 | 193 |
| 2024 | 224 | 304 |
| 2023 | 290 | 211 |
| 2022 | 243 | 212 |
| 2021 | 219 | 316 |
| 2020 | 221 | 409 |
| 2019 | 246 | 416 |
| 2018 | 256 | 386 |
| 2017 | 450 | 452 |
| 2016 | 347 | 437 |
How many Nintendo patents are Alive/Dead?
Worldwide Patents
How Many Patents did Nintendo File in Different Countries?
Countries in which Nintendo Filed Patents
| Country | Patents |
| Japan | 3118 |
| United States Of America | 2913 |
| Europe (EPO) | 948 |
| Germany | 494 |
| China | 289 |
| United Kingdom | 157 |
| Australia | 136 |
| Korea (South) | 112 |
| Taiwan | 98 |
| Hong Kong (S.A.R.) | 76 |
| Canada | 53 |
| Mexico | 38 |
| Spain | 37 |
| Singapore | 37 |
| Brazil | 31 |
| Argentina | 29 |
| Austria | 26 |
| Malaysia | 15 |
| France | 12 |
| India | 8 |
| Italy | 4 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 |
| Israel | 1 |
| Indonesia | 1 |
Where are Research Centers of Nintendo Patents Located?
10 Best Nintendo Patents
US7774155B2 is the most popular patent in the Nintendo portfolio. It has received 526 citations so far from companies like Konami Corporation, Onlive Inc and Microsoft.
Below is the list of 10 most cited patents of Nintendo:
| Publication Numbers | Citation Count |
| US7774155B2 | 526 |
| US10097492B2 | 400 |
| US7056217B1 | 372 |
| US8761800B2 | 372 |
| USD625323S1 | 345 |
| US6884171B2 | 251 |
| US7002591B1 | 229 |
| US7927216B2 | 198 |
| US7796116B2 | 195 |
| US6951516B1 | 192 |
What Percentage of Nintendo US Patent Applications were Granted?
Nintendo (Excluding its subsidiaries) has filed 2608 patent applications at USPTO so far (Excluding Design and PCT applications). Out of these 2115 have been granted leading to a grant rate of 88.87%.
Below are the key stats of Nintendo patent prosecution at the USPTO.
Which Law Firms Filed Most US Patents for Nintendo?
| Law Firm | Total Apps | Allowance Rate |
| Nixon & Vanderhye Pc | 2419 | 93.62% |
| Scully Scott Murphy & Presser Pc | 57 | 100.00% |
| Robert W Farris | 16 | 50.00% |
| Miles & Stockbridge Pc | 11 | 100.00% |
| Oblon Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt Llp | 8 | 100.00% |
| Mark E Nusbaum | 6 | 80.00% |
| Michael J Shea | 6 | 0% |
| Oliff Plc | 6 | 100.00% |
| Jackson & Richardson | 6 | 87.50% |
| Fasse Patent Attorneys Pa | 4 | 100.00% |
What’s Fueling Nintendo’s Strategic Moves in 2024–25?
In a rare but telling acquisition, Nintendo acquired Shiver Entertainment in May 2024, a US-based studio known for porting high-profile games. This signals a sharper focus on cross-platform development and deeper control over software pipelines, especially ahead of the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, confirmed for a 2025 release. With the Switch nearing the end of its lifecycle, Nintendo’s doubling down on in-house capabilities and franchise leverage.
What’s more, the company’s expansion isn’t limited to consoles. Nintendo is scaling its presence in immersive experiences, from theme parks to cinematic IP crossovers, bolstered by the 2023 acquisition of Dynamo Pictures (now Nintendo Pictures). This points to a broader playbook: gaming IP is no longer just for consoles instead it’s an ecosystem of touchpoints across media, entertainment and physical spaces.
How Will Nintendo’s Evolving Strategy Reshape the IP Landscape?
Nintendo’s next chapter is about redefining how its IP connects across devices, experiences and global markets. With the Switch 2 on the horizon and the recent acquisition of Shiver Entertainment, Nintendo is laying the groundwork for a more unified, cross-platform ecosystem. We expect an increase in patents tied to backward compatibility, cloud integration and hybrid gaming models where portability meets power, and software bridges generations of hardware.
However, the real strategic shift lies in Nintendo’s push beyond screens. Its foray into theme parks, films and interactive experiences suggests a broader innovation agenda. Patent filings may soon reflect immersive ride tech, AR-based character interactions and real-world gamification, all grounded in its iconic IP portfolio.
And as Nintendo eyes under-tapped regions like India and Southeast Asia, a geographical broadening of protection that mirrors its content and hardware ambitions is expected.
EXCLUSIVE INSIGHTS COMING SOON!
What are Nintendo key innovation segments?
What Technologies are Covered by Nintendo?
The chart below distributes patents filed by Nintendo in different countries on the basis of the technology protected in patents. It also represents the markets where Nintendo thinks it’s important to protect particular technology inventions.
R&D Focus: How has Nintendo search focus changed over the years?
EXCLUSIVE INSIGHTS COMING SOON!
