Warner Bros closes three development studios, locks Monolith's Nemesis system behind patent

In context: Monolith was founded in 1994 by Bryan Bouwman, Brian Goble, and several others, when when DOS was still the operating system of choice for PC games. Over the years, the studio developed successful series such as Blood, No One Lives Forever, F.E.A.R., Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, and, of course, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Thanks to a sudden "strategic change in direction," Warner Bros has shuttered the studio. Warner Bros recently confirmed the closure of three gaming studios, including Middle-earth developer Monolith Productions. The studio is notable for designing a technology capable of providing unique personalities to enemies and NPCs. However, WB "locked" the system away behind a patent, even though it will likely remain unused. The publisher just confirmed the closure of Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and Warner Bros Games San Diego. Monolith's most recent fame came from the two action-adventure games based on J. R. R. Tolkien's Legendarium: Middle- ... Read full article.