How Games Give You Rewards Based on Where You Are and What You've Done
This patent describes a system that gives players in-game benefits by looking at both their real-world location and their past actions within the game.
Original patent title: “System and method for utilizing location-based analytics to provide gaming awards”
This patent describes a system that gives players in-game benefits by looking at both their real-world location and their past actions within the game. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system provides a player with a benefit, like a special item or bonus, by combining two pieces of information: their current location and their past game activity. For example, if a player has a history of completing quests in a fantasy game (game play history data) and they are currently near a specific landmark in the real world (location data), the system might automatically give them a rare item or unlock a new quest tied to that location. The abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → states it uses "location data associated with the player and game play history data associated with the player" to provide a "benefit". Without the full patent claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →, the exact mechanisms for how this data is collected, analyzed, or how the benefit is determined are not specified.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that provide awards based only on a player's location, without also considering their game play history.
- Does not cover systems that provide awards based only on a player's game play history, without also considering their real-world location.
- Does not cover non-gaming applications where location and history data might be used for other purposes, like targeted advertising outside of a game context.
- Does not cover systems where the 'benefit' is not directly tied to a gaming award, such as a discount on a physical product unrelated to the game.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific combination of a player's real-world location and their detailed history of playing the game to trigger a reward. Many games use location, and many use game history, but combining both to intelligently provide a benefit creates a more personalized and context-aware reward system.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Location-based mobile games that offer bonuses for visiting specific places
Augmented reality games that integrate real-world landmarks into gameplay
Fitness apps that reward users for reaching exercise goals at certain locations
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This approach could make games more immersive by linking virtual rewards to real-world exploration and player dedication. It allows game developers to create dynamic reward systems that encourage players to visit new places or continue engaging with the game over time. This could lead to new ways for games to keep players interested and active, both inside and outside the game world.
Filed
August 2, 2023
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Niantic, known for games such as Pokémon Go and Ingress, are active in the location-based gaming space, frequently exploring ways to integrate real-world data with in-game progression. Other mobile game developers and platforms are also constantly innovating in how they use player data and location to enhance engagement and monetization.
Market impact
This patent's subject matter could influence how mobile games design their reward loops, potentially leading to more sophisticated location-aware incentives. It could encourage players to explore their physical surroundings as part of their gaming experience, blurring the lines between the digital and real worlds. This could also open new avenues for partnerships between game companies and physical businesses looking to drive foot traffic.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system provides a player with a benefit, like a special item or bonus, by combining two pieces of information: their current location and their past game activity. For example, if a player has a history of completing quests in a fantasy game (game play history data) and they are currently near a specific landmark in the real world (location data), the system might automatically give them a rare item or unlock a new quest tied to that location. The abstract states it uses "location data associated with the player and game play history data associated with the player" to provide a "benefit". Without the full patent claims, the exact mechanisms for how this data is collected, analyzed, or how the benefit is determined are not specified.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific combination of a player's real-world location and their detailed history of playing the game to trigger a reward. Many games use location, and many use game history, but combining both to intelligently provide a benefit creates a more personalized and context-aware reward system.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that provide awards based only on a player's location, without also considering their game play history.
- Does not cover systems that provide awards based only on a player's game play history, without also considering their real-world location.
- Does not cover non-gaming applications where location and history data might be used for other purposes, like targeted advertising outside of a game context.
- Does not cover systems where the 'benefit' is not directly tied to a gaming award, such as a discount on a physical product unrelated to the game.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$18K – $58K
Midpoint $36K · 16.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Games Give You Rewards Based on Where You Are and What You've Done (U.S. Patent No. 12,738,125). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12738125/system-and-method-for-utilizing-location-based-analytics-to-provide-gaming
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Games Give You Rewards Based on Where You Are and What You've Done cover?
This patent describes a system that gives players in-game benefits by looking at both their real-world location and their past actions within the game.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This approach could make games more immersive by linking virtual rewards to real-world exploration and player dedication. It allows game developers to create dynamic reward systems that encourage players to visit new places or continue engaging with the game over time. This could lead to new ways for games to keep players interested and active, both inside and outside the game world.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that provide awards based only on a player's location, without also considering their game play history.
Patent monitoring