"Middle-Earth: Shadow of War" is one of the biggest games of the year and will serve as the sequel to the very well received 2014 game "Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor." "Shadow of Mordor" was acclaimed by critics for not only its intense action gameplay and engaging story, but also for introducing the "Nemesis System," which meant that Orcs would remember past encounters with the player. For instance, if you nearly killed an Orc last time you saw him, he might be afraid of you upon your second encounter. This feature saw "Shadow if Mordor's" popularity soar and many gamers were excited when the sequel was announced.

Shadow of War

The sequel, "Shadow of War," follows on from where the previous game left off and will see players once again explore the lands of Mordor as the Ranger Talion. New features have been implemented such as the ability to build up an army and lay siege to Orc strongholds. Once you've captured said stronghold, you will then have to defend it against Orc invaders. Work on the game appeared to be coming along nicely, but the announcement of Forthog the Orc-Slayer, a tribute to a developer on the game who passed away, caused some controversy.

Michael Forgey

Created by the game's developer, Monolith Productions, Forthog the Orc-Slayer was set to be a day one DLC that would cost a few dollars and allows players to fight alongside an Orc named Forthog who would aid the player in their time of need.

This DLC was made to immortalize Michael Forgey, a developer who worked on the game and sadly passed away last year after battling cancer. It was stated in the trailer that proceeds from the DLC would go to Forgey's family.

Controversy

Initially, the DLC appeared to be a touching tribute, but publisher Warner Bros. soon came under fire when it was announced that only those who buy the DLC in the United States, and even then only certain States, would have their money go towards Forgey's family.

The money from buyers outside the US would go entirely to Warner Bros. This caused quite a controversy by gamers who felt Warner Bros. was apparently trying to profit from a touching tribute made to a man by his fellow developers. Many gamers who felt this way instead opted to donate to Forgey's YouCaring page to be sure their money went to his loved ones.

Warner Bros. responds

Today, Warner Bros. has released a statement that attempted to clarify some issues and reveals that the Forthog Orc-Slayer DLC will now be released entirely free of charge. The response states that it was always the intention of Warner Bros. to donate all the proceeds to Forgey's family, regardless of where it was bought. It was previously stated by Warner Bros. on Twitter that this wouldn't be the case, but the statement goes on to say that this Tweet was made in error. Those who have already purchased the DLC will receive a full refund, and Warner Bros. has donated directly to Forgey's family. The statement finished by apologizing to fans and Forgey's loved ones for the confusion. "Middle-Earth: Shadow of War" is set to be released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 10.
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