User Interface & Experience

Nintendo received 1 patent covering a multi-layer map system that tracks where a player has traveled across ground, air, and underground zones, rendering each layer's movement history with distinct visual treatment. Tracks from the player's current layer appear thicker and more prominent, while paths from other vertical zones are visually subdued, preventing clutter in environments with complex vertical layouts. The system also displays icon indicators during track playback to show which layer a recorded path belongs to, giving players real-time vertical context as they review movement history.

Netflix received 2 patents, both centered on second-screen controller technology. The first covers a system that turns phones or tablets into game controllers with layouts that shift dynamically based on what is happening in the game at any given moment, rather than presenting a fixed set of buttons. It also supports asymmetric gameplay where different information is distributed across the main screen and the second screen simultaneously. The second patent addresses how that same second-screen device delivers feedback, automatically adjusting its haptic, audio, and visual responses based on the hardware capabilities of whichever device the player is using, and organizing those responses into categories that help players understand the nature of an in-game event without needing to look at the screen.

Dell received 1 patent for an AI-driven system that analyzes which parts of a game screen receive the most player attention and uses that heat map data to position notifications and UI overlays in areas least likely to interfere with gameplay. Rather than placing alerts at fixed screen coordinates, the system finds the lowest-importance region available at any given moment. It also accounts for players moving between rooms with different display sizes, reconfiguring the overlay layout to suit each environment.

Tencent received 5 patents spanning several areas of mobile and PC game interface design. One patent applies to tower defense games, linking a visible building-level indicator directly to the health values of enemy units so players can read combat difficulty from the interface itself rather than learning it through trial and error. A second patent introduces a dual-reward structure for MOBA ranked modes, pairing the traditional win-or-lose rank system with a separate participation-based reward track that grants progress simply for competing in qualifying matches. A third patent simplifies movement on mobile shooters by allowing a single tap to initiate sustained running, combining the action of standing up with movement initiation so fewer inputs are required overall. The fourth patent expands weapon attachment switching in shooting games from a two-option toggle to a multi-slot interface supporting 3 or more accessories, activated by a specific touch gesture during combat. The fifth patent applies aim-assist logic specifically to skill-shot targeting in MOBA games played with a joystick, snapping the targeting cursor toward valid nearby enemies during the aiming phase before the skill is released.

NetEase received 5 patents, several of which address how players interact with information and controls in team-based and mobile contexts. One patent gives players individual control over how their teammates' map markers appear, letting them adjust the size, opacity, or color of specific markers to reduce visual clutter without removing useful tactical information. A second patent adds a phase-aware screenshot system to social deduction games, allowing players to capture evidence during action phases and access those images only during the voting phase, keeping the captured content contextually relevant to the game's structure. A third patent refines the mobile joystick by introducing a buffer zone between movement speed regions that retains the player's last movement state rather than defaulting to an incorrect one when fingers drift between zones. The fourth patent lets eliminated players in respawn queues voluntarily trade their queue position with a teammate, adding a strategic layer to revival mechanics that previously relied on fixed ordering. The fifth patent consolidates cosmetic item browsing and purchasing into a single pop-up interface so players can preview and buy items without navigating away from the game screen.

Cygames received 1 patent for a batch stage-skipping system that allows mobile game players to select and complete multiple stages simultaneously, collecting their rewards without playing each one individually. The system manages stamina consumption across the entire batch and displays a partial completion status when the player's resources run out before all selected stages are finished, rather than simply canceling the remaining stages outright.

Supercell received 1 patent covering a multi-touch control system that allows players to deploy resources at multiple screen locations through a single gesture, rather than tapping each location in sequence. The system also reads touch speed and pressure to modify how resources are deployed, creating a more responsive and context-sensitive control scheme for fast-paced strategic gameplay on mobile devices.

Sony received 1 patent for a system that lets players create annotations tied directly to game state data and share them with others. Because the annotations are anchored to specific game conditions rather than video timestamps, they surface at the precise moment another player encounters the relevant situation, regardless of how that player arrived there. The system includes access controls for managing who can view shared annotations, social sharing features, and machine learning tools that can generate annotations automatically.

EA received 1 patent for a 3D character customization interface built around intersecting track layouts, where players scroll through cosmetic options displayed as 2D thumbnails along curved paths. When a thumbnail reaches the intersection point of 2 tracks, the 3D character model in the scene updates in real time to reflect that item, while previously active items revert to thumbnail form. This creates a spatially organized preview system that differs from conventional flat grids or scrolling lists.

Beijing Zitiao Network Technology received 1 patent for an AI-powered system designed to run voice imitation and lyric-relay games within a single unified interface. The system automatically pauses media playback at designated moments, prompts the appropriate player to continue the lyrics or dialogue, and scores their vocal performance against the source content in real time. By handling playback control, turn management, and scoring together, it removes the need for users to manually coordinate separate applications to run this type of game.