Monolight Productions has closed, but other studios could imitate their Némesis system

Introduced in 2014 with the game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Monolith Productions’ Nemesis system has marked a milestone in video game design by allowing enemies to exist within a hierarchy and remember previous interactions with the player. This innovative system has been a topic of discussion since Warner Bros. Games closed the studio this winter, leading many to think that players may have reached the end of their relationship with this unique mechanic for over a decade.

A system that copyright will not prevent from being used

Despite the uncertainty, industry experts have pointed out that the legacy of the Nemesis system could continue to influence future developments. Xalavier Nelson Jr., leader of the studio Strange Scaffold, commented in a recent interview that the patent of the system offers other designers a significant space to operate without infringing legal restrictions. He mentions that similar elements can be found in the Mercenaries system in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, which retains the idea of a hierarchical list of enemies, although it cannot replicate all the complexities of the original design due to the existing patent.

Scott Kelly, patent attorney, adds that the video game industry is built on prior ideas and suggests that developers can leverage aspects of the Nemesis system without infringing the patent. This flexibility offers hope that concepts inspired by Monolith’s mechanics will persist in future productions.

In a recent turn of events, Warner Bros. Games is working on a new intellectual property, following the cancellation of a Wonder Woman game. Although details are scarce, this new IP is expected to launch this year, which could present a new opportunity for the evolution of gaming in the ecosystem that once housed the innovative Nemesis system.

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