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Warner Bros has announced on its blog that its forthcoming title, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, will have purchasable loot boxes and premium currency to level up protagonist Talion more quickly than the regular, grind-y way.Â
In Shadow of War, the player will be able to buy Loot Chests, War Chests, and XP boosts from the in-game shop (the Market), using in-game acquired currency or for the impatient ones, actual money. Loot Chests contain XP boosts and gear ‘of varying rarity,’ according to Warner Bros, whereas War Chests will reward the player with Orc followers whose rarity is randomised. Alongside the Loot Chests and War Chests, there are two in-game currencies: Mirian is obtained from your efforts in-game, such as completing tasks or finding stashes throughout the game; whereas Gold is awarded in small amounts throughout the game, or by completing community challenges. Gold can also be purchased from the Market to gain access to more Loot Chests without having to wait.
Warner Bros have said that purchasing Gold isn’t necessary, stating that, ‘These are the same items that are found in the Market within Loot Chests and War Chests. Gold merely allows you to get your hands on them immediately, cutting down some of the additional time that would have been spent winning more battles, tracking nemeses, completing quests and assaulting fortresses’. Better get grinding then, folks… or buying.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an action video game, based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkein, which continues the story from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The protagonist Talion works in unison with the spirit of the elf Celebrimbor to thwart the uprising of Sauron and his Nazgul forces.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is out on October 10 for PS4, Xbox One and PC
