Shadow of Mordor’s Secret Plan Revealed
Developed by Monolith and released in 2014, Shadow of Mordor managed to make its name known in the gaming world with its innovative Nemesis system. This system added unique depth to the game by allowing players to recognize their enemies, remember past encounters, and seek revenge. However, statements made by former Warner Bros. Games executive Laura Fryer revealed that there was a more commercial plan behind this mechanism. According to Fryer, the Nemesis system was essentially designed to reduce second-hand game sales.
Shadow of Mordor’s Nemesis System
According to Fryer’s statements, the developers of Shadow of Mordor learned a lesson from the second-hand sales problem experienced in games such as Arkham Asylum. Players returning games shortly after purchasing them and buying other games caused developers to lose revenue. “This was a good thing for stores and players, but it was a complete disaster for developers,” Fryer said. Because developers were only making money from the first copy of the game.
To solve this problem, the Monolith team developed the Nemesis system to keep players in their hands for longer. “We were looking for a way to connect players to the game and keep the disc in their library,” Fryer said.
The Nemesis system received great acclaim with Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Shadow of War. However, the use of this system has been patented by Warner Bros. until 2036, preventing other game studios from developing similar mechanics. With Monolith’s closure, the future of the system remains uncertain.
The Nemesis system, which was initially announced to be used in the Wonder Woman game, was shelved when Monolith withdrew from the project. Still, the fact that such a mechanism was developed for a commercial purpose in the gaming world offers an interesting perspective on how creative processes in the industry are shaped.
Read More: Everything You Know About Nintendo Switch 2
