The Nemesis system, for those unfamiliar, is a clever in-game mechanic which tracks a player's actions to create enemies that feel capable of remembering past encounters. In the studio's Middle-earth games, this allowed foes to rise through the ranks and enact revenge.

As reported by journalist Stephen Totilo, Monolith's Nemesis system patent --which remains the property of Warner Bros.--was filed in 2016, and it won't expire until August 11, 2036. The only way the patent could be officially abandoned beforehand is if Warner Bros. fails to pay the associated fees to keep it active.

Warner Bros will retain the rights to Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis system until 2036 The system was set to be used in Monolith Productions' Wonder Woman game Warner Bros shut down Monolith this week, leaving the Nemesis system to be unusable by any other studio for another 11 years Warner Bros.

Players are mourning the loss of the Nemesis system introduced by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor following Monolith's closure.

Wonder Woman was the third game by Monolith expected to use the Nemesis System. The feature – first introduced in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – powers emergent storylines in each individual playthrough, giving antagonists unique personalities which changes how they respond to your actions in the world.

One of the best game mechanics in recent memory, the Nemesis system from Shadow of Mordor, is locked behind a patent until 2036. It was going to be used in a new Wonder Woman game, but that was cancelled.

Last night, the gaming community was taken by surprise when Warner Bros. announced the shutdown of Monolith Productions, known for their groundbreaking work on the ‘Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor’ and its sequel,