Two of the most talked-about mechanics in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom; the Echoes system and the Bind mechanic have officially been patented by Nintendo.
Echoes Patent
One patent covers the “Echoes” feature, where players use the Tri Rod to summon “echoes” (replicas of objects or creatures) for combat, traversal, and puzzle-solving. The patent abstract states it “automatically control[s] a plurality of kinds of dynamic objects … and interact[s] with imitation objects …” The diagrams clearly depict the Echoes system players know and love.
Bind Patent
The second patent details the “Bind” mechanic. It describes a two-state interaction:
- A dynamic object is moved alongside the player;
- The player is moved along with the object (reverse bind);
It even states these states can be switched “based on an operation input”—a perfect match for the in-game bind/reverse bind moves.
Patent Publication
Both applications were published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on June 26, 2025.
Nintendo’s Patent Strategy
These filings continue Nintendo’s trend of patenting mechanics from Tears of the Kingdom (like Ultrahand and Ascend). As long as Nintendo keeps innovating in the Zelda series, expect more mechanics to be patented.
What This Means
Patenting gameplay mechanics is rare in game design, and it sparked reactions within the community. Some argue that ideas like moving platforms with a player atop have existed for decades—and that broad patents like these could stifle innovation.
At the same time, Nintendo’s patenting shows they view these systems as valuable intellectual property—ones they could protect or license in the future.
Your Thoughts?
What do you make of Nintendo’s move to patent Echoes and Bind? Smart protectiveness or overly broad claim? Let us know in the comments!
