Microtransactions removed from Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the latest entry in the Lords of the Rings gaming franchise. However, when the title launched, it was caught up in a controversy involving microtransactions. The loot crates in the game gave players access to powerful orcs which could be used to fill out their armies without doing the footwork.

Microtransactions were by no means mandatory, but they were still an easy way to become strong early on in the game. Many gamers thought that this was unfair. A few months ago, Warner Bros. Interactive said it would remove microtransactions from Middle-earth: Shadow of War soon. A post on the game's community website provided more details.

The core promise of the Nemesis System is the ability to build relationships with your personal allies and enemies in a dynamic open world. While purchasing Orcs in the Market is more immediate and provides additional player options, we have come to realize that providing this choice risked undermining the heart of our game... It allows you to miss out on the awesome player stories you would have otherwise created, and it compromises those same stories... Simply being aware that they are available for purchase reduces the immersion in the world and takes away from the challenge of building your personal army and your fortresses.

As promised, microtransactions were removed today. It's great to see that Warner Bros. is listening to fans and fixing this issue which was a cause for concern for many gamers. However, given the fact that Middle-earth: Shadow of War launched in October 2017, it might be too late. Many players have moved on to other experiences.

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