Warner Bros Owns the Nemesis System Until 2035 Even After Monolith’s Shutdown

Monolith Productions, the studio behind Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, is shutting down. Warner Bros is merging the team with Avalanche Software, the developers of Hogwarts Legacy. But even though Monolith is closing, one of its biggest creations—the Nemesis System—will stay under Warner Bros’ control for a long time.

The Nemesis System was first introduced in Shadow of Mordor and became even more complex in Shadow of War. It made enemies remember past fights, react to how battles played out, and even grow stronger after defeats. This feature made the games stand out, but no other studios have used it because Warner Bros patented it in 2021. That patent doesn’t expire until 2035, meaning no one else can legally copy the system without permission.

Monolith was expected to use the Nemesis System again in future projects. The studio was working on a Wonder Woman game, and many hoped it would include the same mechanics. But with the team now absorbed into Avalanche Software, it’s unclear if the Nemesis System will appear in any upcoming games. Warner Bros still owns the patent, so it’s possible they could use it in another franchise, but they haven’t announced any plans.

Many people have criticized Warner Bros for patenting the system. Game mechanics are rarely locked down like this, and some believe it limits creativity in the industry. Other companies could have built on the idea and improved it, but with the patent in place, they can’t do much without legal trouble. Some developers have even spoken out against the decision, arguing that gaming should be about sharing innovation, not restricting it.

Despite all this, Warner Bros hasn’t done much with the Nemesis System since Shadow of War in 2017. If they don’t use it in future games, it could end up gathering dust, despite being one of the most unique mechanics in modern gaming. Meanwhile, with Monolith shutting down, the studio that created the system won’t be around to improve it.

For now, the Nemesis System remains locked behind Warner Bros’ patent, and unless they decide to use it again, it may be a long time before we see anything like it in another game.