Warner Bros. Shuts Down Monolith Productions, Locking Nemesis System in Patent Until 2036

The closure of the studio behind Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor raises concerns about the future of its groundbreaking gaming mechanic.

Warner Bros. Games has closed Monolith Productions, the studio responsible for the acclaimed Nemesis System featured in the Middle-earth series.
The Nemesis System, patented in 2021 and set to expire in 2036, remains under Warner Bros.' control, limiting its use in future games.
Monolith's closure follows years of internal struggles, including canceled projects like the original Wonder Woman game and the departure of key leadership in 2021.
Fans speculate Warner Bros. may release a minimal-effort Shadow of Mordor remake to retain the patent rights to the Nemesis System.
Warner Bros. is shifting its focus to fewer franchises, prioritizing established IPs like Mortal Kombat, Batman, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones.