The sequel to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor has not yet been officially announced, but Target has leaked the title of the upcoming game and several details regarding it.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, released in 2014, is set within J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings universe in between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The open-world action title received rave reviews, and even won Game of the Year at the 15th annual Game Developers Choice Awards at the 2015 Game Developers Conference.
The sequel to such a critically acclaimed game is something that players will look forward to, and the leak by Target has confirmed that the title is on the way.
'Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War' Leaked Online
The listing of the sequel to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, titled Middle-earth: Shadow of War, was spotted in an international listing by Target. The listing has since been taken down, but the details have been preserved through a post on NeoGAF.
"Go behind enemy lines to forge your army, conquer Fortresses, and dominate Mordor from within," reads the description of the game, adding that the Nemesis System from the first game is coming back for the sequel.
The Nemesis System, for those who have not played the first game, allows orc leaders that players fight in the game to remember their encounters with Talion, the game's protagonist. Orcs that are able to kill Talion will receive a rank promotion and become stronger, creating a unique story for each play-through as the orcs, with their different strengths and weaknesses, also grow and progress.
In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, players guide Talion through his quest for vengeance against Sauron and his army of orcs. Talion, his men, and his family were killed when orcs overran the Black Gate, the massive gate that separates Mordor from the rest of Middle-earth. However, Talion was resurrected by Celebrimbor, giving him wraith-like abilities to use against his enemies.
According to Kotaku's Jason Schreier, the story for Middle-earth: Shadow of War will see Talion and Celebrimbor try to forge a new ring that will be able to challenge the power of the ring that Sauron wields. There will also be new stronghold mechanics and special abilities awaiting players.
'Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War' Gold Edition Revealed
In addition to the main game, a Gold Edition for Middle-earth: Shadow of War was also revealed. The version of the game includes two Nemesis expansions featuring a new orc tribe, two story expansions containing new campaigns and another playable character, and a gold war chest.
The description for the Middle-earth: Shadow of War Gold Edition contained new information about the game, hinting that players will be forging a new Ring of Power and will take over Mordor with their own orc army.
'Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War' Release Date
The listing for Middle-earth: Shadow of War showed a release date of Aug. 22, at a price of $59.99. Both these details may be true, but early release dates as shown on the websites of retailers, whether as leaks or legitimate listings, sometimes change.
For the true launch date of the game, players will have to wait until Middle-earth: Shadow of War is officially announced.
