If you’ve played through Shadow of War, taken on the challenge and repetition of Shadow Wars and still want more, then you’ll be delighted to know that there’s a lot more content coming. Yes, its coming by way of an expansion pass – which is included in the Gold Edition of the game. Warner and Monolith have detailed what’s coming – which may include a few spoilers for those who’ve yet to finish the game.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a game of treachery, domination and shaming. Lots and lots of it in fact, as a few weeks after launch and the numbers that have come in for the game have been nothing short of staggering.

Shadow of War is an early example of just how powerful the Xbox One X is, closing the gap on PC fidelity while leaving the PS4 Pro well behind.

Shadow of War uses the now-standard Denuvo Anti Tampering on PC. Increasingly, Denuvo’s taken less and less time for nefarious underworlders to bypass, but Shadow of War’s protection has been cracked in just 24 hours.

Shadow of War’s best armour can be found in unique sets, legendary gear which layers on more bonuses the more of them that you have. If you're prepared for some Elvish poetry that is.

Gaining power in a video game is easy. But maintaining it? Now that’s the real challenge. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor may have ended with Talion having the power to enslave an army of Orcs and then detonate their heads like a squishy fourth of July. Shadow of War pulls the ol’ switcheroo on Talion’s ability to raise hell, sending him back to square one as he rebuilds not only his army but also his personal taste for Orcish devastation.

Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West! Prepare your thumbs for a return to Middle-Earth this week, as the Shadow of War draws forth!

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is one of my top ten games of the year, a sprawling sandbox that makes liberal use of its source material to tell its own tale. It’s massive, has dozens of hours of contents and it’ll leave you caring for a gang of smelly fat Orcs as if they were slightly better smelling members of your own family. A great game, that many people locally can’t wait to start playing tomorrow. Digitally that is, because physical copies will be delayed until Thursday.