Middle-earth: Shadow of War features a ranked online mode and microtransactions

Update: Middle-earth: Shadow of War has a ranked online mode which is why it has microtransactions. I imagine this will prolong the longevity of the game but it’s still a little odd to see microtransactions in a heavy single-playing experience. The title also features a forward operating base like Metal Gear Solid Online.

It looks like Middle-earth: Shadow of War has microtransactions. The title features an in-game currency you can purchase for actual cash. In a post on their blog, the developer revealed this rather strange addition to the franchise. They wrote:

“An important aspect of the Nemesis System now comes in forging, customizing and leading your own army of unique Orc followers against the fortresses of Mordor. There are different ways to do this, including dominating Orcs by exploring the vast open-world and encountering them as part of Orc society, or players can acquire Orcs and other items through the Market…players can purchase Loot Chests, War Chests, XP Boosts and Bundles…To purchase these items, players can spend Mirian or Gold throughout the game as one progresses. Mirian is a type of in-game currency…Gold is another form of in-game currency that can be used to get higher level Loot Chests, War Chests, Boosts and Bundles of the aforementioned content. Gold can be acquired by…Purchasing through the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store or by adding to your Steam Wallet using real money.”

As excited as I am about Middle-earth: Shadow of War, it’s somewhat odd that a single-player game has this many microtransactions. They claim it’s not pay-to-win but whoever spends the most gold to get the most loot can dominate the battlefield easily. This is rather unfair and my excitement for this game diminished a little bit I’ll be honest. Hopefully the special editions of the title will contain a lot of Gold. We’ll just have to wait and see. What do you think about this?