Monolith Productions has officially closed its doors and with that, have hidden away one of the greatest gameplay systems ever created: the Nemesis System from Shadow of Mordor. This enables the artificial intelligence of non-playable characters to recall past interactions with the protagonist and respond accordingly in future encounters. Honestly, it’s pretty incredible when you compare it to other games requiring you to fight NPCs you’ve already challenged before.
However, the system will likely never see the light of day again now that it’s hidden behind parent company Warner Bros. until 2036. Realistically, it’s not like the battle system is Elvis’s autopsy or Kennedy’s assassination records, why keep it sealed for so long?
“The fact this “system” can even be patented, is the most brain dead idiotic thing ever.
Such a BASIC feature should NOT be able to be patented.”
The Nemesis system was going to be reused in Monolith’s upcoming Wonder Woman game, which has now been shelved as a result of the closure. Considering that Warner Bros. finds it necessary to keep the patent for so long, there is hope that it is set to be used in a different game by another developer in their portfolio.
Monolith Production’s closure came as a surprise to fans and employees alike, though it didn’t for those who have been keeping a watchful eye over the gaming industry. Over the last two years, many studio closures and studio-wide layoffs have affected a ton of games and a massive number of careers. In fact, community pillar Amir Satvat recently won a Game Changers award at The Game Awards 2024 for creating a resource that helps game industry personnel find jobs.
However, even in 2025, developers, programmers, narrative directors, and other positions have been greatly affected. There is no clear indication if there will ever be an end to this, though considering the studios that are left, it can’t be long.
