Monolith, the makers of the 2014 smash hit Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, have announced that a sequel – Shadow of War – will be released later this year.
Shadow of Mordor follows the character Talion, who is seeking revenge on Sauron and the forces of Mordor for the murder of his family. However, he merges with the spirit of the Elven-smith Celebrimbor who together go on quest for vengeance. Through the game, Celebrimbor and Talion are able to defeat and control the armies of Mordor until a final confrontation with Sauron.
The sequel – due out on the 25 August – follows Talion after Celebrimbor has forged a new Ring of Power in order to finally vanquish Sauron.
However, in an interview with Two Left Sticks, Tolkien Society Chair, Shaun Gunner, criticised the game franchise. Shaun said:
Visually, these games look like Middle-earth; but they don’t feel like Middle-earth as described by Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. [..] it’s a little far-fetched [..] So ‘What if Bilbo had killed Gollum,’ sure. But this is ‘What if a man dies and a dead elf lord bonds with his body to turn him into a wraith and then he is able to control orcs?’
