The game was the best-selling video game in the United States in its month of release. Many critics noted that the game's increased scope caused it to feel bloated. Reviewers praised the gameplay and improved nemesis system, while criticizing the game's microtransactions (which was removed in a post-game update in July 2018) and story, including changes to characters seen in Tolkien's books. Shadow of War had a generally favorable reception from critics, albeit more mixed than its predecessor. Other cast members include Alastair Duncan as Celebrimbor, Laura Bailey, and Pollyanna McIntosh.Īnnounced in March 2017, the game was released worldwide for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on October 10, 2017. Troy Baker returned to provide the voice of Talion, while simultaneously serving as the game's motion capture director. Locations in the game were inspired by the landscapes of eastern Washington, Alaska, and Iceland. Compared to its predecessor, the game features more light-hearted moments, and the five regions were designed to be bigger and more colorful. Shadow of War expanded on the scope of Shadow of Mordor by introducing new game mechanics and extending the nemesis system, which procedurally generates orc characters for players to fight and recruit.