On February 28, Xbox Game Pass will remove Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, an open-world RPG set in the Lord of the Rings universe and best known for its highly coveted Nemesis System, which is locked behind a patent. Middle-Earth: Shadow of War originally launched in 2017 and was later added to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and console tiers in 2019.
Developed by the now-closed Monolith Productions, Shadow of War is not the first game to use the widely praised Nemesis System. Its predecessor, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, released in 2014, is credited with introducing the mechanic to the video game industry. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. Games, which owned Monolith Productions, shut down the studio in 2025, leaving Shadow of War as the last game to implement this standout gameplay system in nearly a decade.
Wonder Woman’s Cancelation Means One Mechanic May Never See the Light of Day Again
Wonder Woman has met a tragic end alongside its developer Monolith, potentially leaving a beloved mechanic locked away forever.
Shadow of War Is the Last Living Game with the Nemesis System
For those wondering what the Nemesis System in Shadow of War is all about, it is essentially a complex method for generating enemies who interact with the player and the world based on their memories. One clear example is when a nameless, random NPC kills the player. That single act promotes this “nobody” to an orc captain, complete with a unique personality, new skills, and custom voice lines tied to the kill. However, that is only scratching the surface of the Nemesis System’s full potential.
Monolith Productions describes Shadow of War as the game where “nothing will be forgotten.” It offers players a far more intricate version of the Nemesis mechanic, with NPCs gaining their own quests and progression paths. As noted by Game Developer, “The orcs level up by killing the player or completing random encounters that are spawned throughout the map.” They can also form alliances, betray the player, or “cheat death” by returning wounded or scarred, determined to avenge their defeat. Altogether, these layered interactions and persistent memories make the game’s Lord of the Rings-inspired open world feel genuinely alive.
The studio behind the Nemesis System, Monolith Productions, has long been praised for its innovative approach to world-building and emergent storytelling. Its first entry in the series, Shadow of Mordor, earned multiple prestigious awards, including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming at the 2015 D.I.C.E. Awards and Best Design and Best Technology at the 2015 Game Developers Choice Awards. That said, many have criticized the publisher, WB Games, for keeping the system under a patent for over a decade without using it in any of its own games.
Warner Bros. Games Has Been Accused of ‘Patent Bullying’
Several major video games have found ways to create living worlds with procedurally generated NPCs similar to Warner Bros. Games’ patented Nemesis System without facing legal trouble. For example, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey introduced a mercenary mechanic that generated bounty hunters based on the player’s unlawful actions, while Watch Dogs: Legion incorporated elements of memory to give NPCs different backstories and relationships without infringing on the Nemesis System patent.
Despite this, many believe that a large corporation like Warner Bros., holding a patent that could enhance NPCs across countless games, is acting in bad faith. One player wrote, “[WB Games] should be slapped in the face with a lawsuit to have the Nemesis patent revoked from them for closing down the only studio that actually used it.” Gamers have long argued that titles like The Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption, and even GTA could become far more immersive with memory-based character development inspired by the Nemesis System. However, the patented gameplay mechanic will remain protected until 2036, making it unlikely that future games can fully harness its potential.
Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Should Enjoy the Lost Art of Living Enemies While They Can
While the controversy over Warner Bros’ patent shows no signs of ending soon, Xbox Game Pass subscribers should not miss out on the chance to experience the Nemesis System in action while Middle-Earth: Shadow of War remains on the service. They have until February 28 to download and play this masterpiece, which offers roughly 20 to 30 hours of campaign gameplay. Game Pass subscribers also receive a 20% discount on purchasing the game, making it a perfect opportunity to add the last title to feature the lost art of the Nemesis System to their collection.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Other Games Leaving Game Pass on February 28
- Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
- Injustice 2
- Monster Train
