Monolith Cancels New IP Prior to Wonder Woman Attempt; Upcoming LEGO Game Set for Next Year

Monolith Productions Officially Closed: Insights from Jason Schreier

In the wake of Monolith Productions’ recent shutdown, acclaimed gaming journalist Jason Schreier provided a deeper understanding of the studio’s recent endeavors during an episode of Kinda Funny Gamescast.

Shift Away from Middle-earth Franchise

Schreier revealed that Monolith had no intention of continuing within the ‘Middle-earth: Shadow of’ series, a decision influenced by a general decline in interest surrounding the franchise following the release of Middle-earth: Shadow of War. The team sought to innovate with an original intellectual property, codenamed “Legacy.”However, this ambitious project was ultimately cancelled by Warner Bros. Games in April 2021, marking a significant setback for the studio.

This cancellation led to a substantial exodus as many senior developers left to establish Cliffhanger Games, now under Electronic Arts, where they are currently developing a Black Panther game. Notably, this upcoming title promises to incorporate ‘new storytelling technologies’ likely inspired by the renowned Nemesis system, a groundbreaking feature originally devised by Monolith. While Warner Bros.holds the trademark for the Nemesis system, it remains feasible that the former developers could devise a comparable mechanism without infringing on legal rights.

The Struggles of Developing Wonder Woman

Later efforts at Monolith included the development of a Wonder Woman game, also envisioned to utilize the Nemesis system. However, the project was complicated by a complete overhaul of the leadership team midway through development. There were also debates between using the Unreal Engine or Monolith’s proprietary LithTech Firebird engine; ultimately, the latter prevailed. Unfortunately, many of the engineers who were proficient with this engine had departed by that time, which created additional hurdles during development.

Moreover, reports indicate that the Wonder Woman project underwent significant restructuring between late 2023 and early 2024. The reimagined concept aimed to align more closely with the gameplay style of God of War, veering away from the previously intended Nemesis system. Despite these efforts, it became increasingly clear that considerable work remained before completion, prompting Warner Bros. Games to halt operations at Monolith.

Future Endeavors at Warner Bros. Games

Amidst the turmoil, there were plans within Warner Bros. Games, with certain executives proposing to shift WB Games Montreal into a support role post-release of Gotham Knights. Some team members had recently been assisting Monolith with the Wonder Woman project. Meanwhile, WB Games Montreal continues to face challenges as they aim to pitch a game based on the cherished Game of Thrones franchise, a property regarded as a priority moving forward.

Additionally, Schreier shared that TT Games is nearing completion on a new LEGO title with an anticipated launch as early as next year, reflecting a continued commitment to innovate within established franchises.

Through these developments, it’s clear that the landscape of game development is ever-changing, with studios pivoting and adapting as they navigate the complexities of creative project management and market demands.

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