The Nemesis System patent is one of the biggest travesties in modern gaming. Created, implemented, and patented by the now-defunct Monolith Productions (which was owned by Warner Bros), the system saw Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor’s Orcs rise through the ranks every time they prevailed over your character.
With each promotion, these Orcs became more powerful, more twisted, and more hell-bent on taking you down. It added a layer of depth and complexity to what would have otherwise been a pair of totally serviceable Lord of the Rings-focused Action-RPGs.
Unfortunately, however, the system was last seen in 2017’s Middle-earth: Shadow of War, with Warner Bros. showing clear disregard for the patent and its potential impact on future video games. It seemed to have died alongside Monolith, but there is now a glimmer of hope.
With Warner Bros’ sale to Netflix (or now potentially Paramount Skydance) on the horizon, players and developers are hoping the patent will be removed, so much so that a new petition has been created asking the prospective buyer to release the Nemesis System for all.
There Is Renewed Hope That The Nemesis System Could Be Freed
Over the last few days, news broke that Netflix is in talks to acquire Warner Bros., including all of its gaming IP. Should the sale go through, with a competing hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance now also in consideration, Netflix would own DC, Harry Potter, The Matrix, and most pertinently in this case, the Nemesis System.
With hopes that Netflix will play the “good guys” here, a new Change.org petition has sprung up, asking the company to “unlock the Nemesis System.”
The petition calls the Nemesis System “one of the most groundbreaking innovations in modern gaming,” and asks potential signers to “Imagine a world where RPGs, action games, strategy games, roguelikes, and survival games are infused with emergent narratives and dynamic characters, made possible through the widespread availability of the Nemesis System.” The implementations are truly endless, and if done correctly, could reshape video games forever.
Warner Bros. Will Still Own The Nemesis System Until 2036, Despite Monolith Closure
Monolith may be gone, but the Nemesis System still belongs to Warner Bros.
While, at the time of writing, the petition has only 484 signatures, there is hope that it will begin to gain traction, enhancing “Netflix’s reputation as an industry leader but also setting new standards for promoting innovation and creativity in gaming.”
- Released
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September 30, 2014
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
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Monolith
- Engine
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lithtech
- Franchise
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The Lord of the Rings
