Summary
According to a patent filed in May 2024,Nintendoand The Pokemon Company are working on a new video game controller that would function similarly to a Poke Ball.Nintendohas registered a number of unique gaming technology patents in recent months, and this team-up with The Pokemon Company may provide an interesting insight into the collaborative research and development efforts between these two giants.
Fans are likely familiar with the iconic Poke Ball items from thePokemon video game franchiseand television series. Poke Balls help trainers to capture the beloved pocket monsters, which can then be used in battle against one another. While there has been real-world Poke Ball technology and merchandise released previously, this newest development could offer fans a brand-new gaming experience.
Published on August 22, a technology patent registered by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company details a new device that appears to be a Poke Ball-style video game controller. Several images in the patent show the internal hardware of a Nintendo Switch system in the form of a round Poke Ball design utilizing motion controls and button inputs with the same technology as a Switch controller or Joy-Cons. Nintendo has previously released thePoke Ball Plus forPokemon GO, but the device shown in this recent patent looks to be for a brand-new controller that could work with console releases.
Nintendo Poke Ball Controller Patent Details
As seen in Figure 8, a player would be able to physically hold the Poke Ball controller in their hand and use a combination of motion controls and button inputs to execute certain in-game actions like summoning a Pokemon from its ball and commanding its movements in battle. Figures 9 and 10 of the patent show how Pokemon capturing would work with the Poke Ball controller, and Figure 14 gives players a look at how battles would be done. While these images may be very exciting, it is key to note that companies like Nintendo frequently filevideo game technology patentsfor hardware and software that is never fully developed. As such, it is best to await official announcements from Nintendo or The Pokemon Company before expecting to see this Poke Ball controller on the market.
With audiences eagerly awaiting the eventual news of thenext Nintendo gaming console, the publication of patents helps players to follow along with the behind-the-scenes developments at these companies. WhetherNintendoand The Pokemon Company will fully develop and launch this Poke Ball controller to the public remains to be seen, so interested fans will want to stay tuned for any updates.
