Middle-Earth Shadow Of War Freebies Gaming Promotions And Dlc Offers

The gaming industry frequently offers promotional content at no cost to consumers, with Middle-earth: Shadow of War being one such title that has been available through multiple free distribution channels. This article examines the various free offers associated with Middle-earth: Shadow of War and its predecessor, including limited-time game giveaways, promotional DLC releases, and subscription-based free content. The information presented is based on verified announcements from official sources and promotional materials released by the publishers and distribution platforms.

PlayStation Plus Free Game Offer

Middle-earth: Shadow of War was included as part of PlayStation Plus free game offerings during the PS5 era. According to official announcements, PS+ members had the opportunity to download this action RPG at no cost during a specific period. The game was available alongside other promotional titles as part of Sony's initiative to expand the PlayStation Plus Collection.

The availability period for Middle-earth: Shadow of War through PlayStation Plus extended from Thursday, November 12 to January 4, 2021. This timeframe allowed subscribers ample opportunity to claim and download the game before it rotated out of the free offerings. The game joined Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition and Bugsnax in the lineup of free titles available to PlayStation Plus members during that period.

The PlayStation Plus Collection, launched on November 12, 2020, provided PS5 owners with access to a curated selection of acclaimed PS4 games. While Middle-earth: Shadow of War was not part of this permanent collection, it was featured as a temporary addition to the monthly free games lineup. This promotional approach allowed new and existing subscribers to experience the game without additional cost.

Amazon Prime Gaming Free Game Offer

Amazon Prime members have had multiple opportunities to obtain Middle-earth games at no cost through Prime Gaming. In October 2022, Amazon Prime subscribers could claim Middle-earth: Shadow of War for free on PC as part of the Prime Gaming monthly lineup. This offer allowed subscribers to claim and keep the game permanently, even if their Prime membership ended.

The availability of Middle-earth: Shadow of War through Prime Gaming coincided with the airing of "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" TV series, creating thematic alignment between the promotional offer and current media interest. The game was highlighted as "one of the best Lord of the Rings video games ever released" in promotional materials distributed by Amazon.

The previous month, Prime Gaming had offered Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor—the predecessor to Shadow of War—as part of its September 2022 lineup. This consecutive offering of both games in the series provided interested players with an opportunity to experience both titles at no cost. Prime Gaming typically allows subscribers to claim games permanently, meaning they remain accessible in the user's library even after the promotional period ends.

Prime Gaming frequently offers a variety of free games across different genres and platforms. In addition to Middle-earth: Shadow of War, the October 2022 lineup included other titles such as Fallout 76, Total War: Warhammer 2, and Glass Masquerade: Origins. These offerings complement the main free game releases with additional content for subscribers to enjoy.

The Forthog Orc Slayer DLC Free Offer

The Forthog Orc Slayer DLC for Middle-earth: Shadow of War has an interesting history regarding its availability and pricing. Initially, Warner Bros. announced that this DLC, based on Mike 'Forthog' Forgey—an executive producer who passed away during the game's production—would be sold as a paid DLC, with all profits going to Forgey's family. The announcement specified that "WB Games will donate $3.50 of every Forthog Orc Slayer purchase to the Forgey family through December 31, 2019."

However, due to confusion regarding the profit distribution and some states' regulations regarding charitable donations, Warner Bros. later clarified that neither the publisher nor the developer would receive any profits from the DLC sales. All proceeds would go directly to the Forgey family worldwide. This clarification was necessary because the initial announcement had suggested the charitable donation applied only to sales made in the US.

Ultimately, in response to ongoing confusion and concerns, Warner Bros. announced that the Forthog Orc Slayer DLC would be made available for free to all players. The official announcement stated: "For absolute clarity; our intention was always to give all profits from the DLC, worldwide to the Forgey family." This decision ensured that all players could access the content without cost while still supporting the charitable cause.

The DLC features a character based on Forgey and was created as a tribute to his contributions to the game's development. The free availability removed any potential barriers for players who wished to experience this content while ensuring the charitable intent remained intact.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Free Offer

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, the predecessor to Shadow of War, has also been available through free promotional offers. Amazon Prime Gaming included this title in its September 2022 lineup, allowing Prime members to claim the game at no cost. This offer provided an opportunity for players to experience the original game that introduced the acclaimed Nemesis System before moving on to its sequel.

The availability of both Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War through Prime Gaming in consecutive months created a unique opportunity for interested players to experience both games in the series without cost. This promotional strategy allowed Amazon to capitalize on renewed interest in the Middle-earth franchise, particularly with the concurrent release of "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" TV series.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was often compared to Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series during its release. In fact, the sequel Shadow of War included an Easter egg referencing this comparison, with orcs in the game occasionally saying lines like "I'm an assassin!" and "We all are! It's like a creed!" This playful acknowledgment of the comparison demonstrated the developers' awareness of how their game was perceived in relation to other popular action RPGs of the time.

Game Overview and Features

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an action RPG set in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world, specifically between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The game serves as a sequel to 2014's Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and follows the story of the ranger Talion as he raises an army to ward off Sauron's forces. Players utilize the talents of various realm races to achieve victory in this expansive open-world game.

One of the game's most distinctive features is its Nemesis System, which creates dynamically generated orc chieftains that remember and adapt to player encounters. This system generates unique narratives as orcs rise through Mordor's ranks based on their interactions with the player. The sequel expanded upon this system, introducing additional strategic elements that allow players to gradually amass their own army and command it in battles.

The game features open-world exploration with a focus on melee combat against various orc enemies. Players navigate through enemy strongholds, engaging in both stealth and direct combat encounters. The narrative, while not universally praised, provides context for the gameplay actions and connects to Tolkien's broader Middle-earth lore.

Microtransactions have been a point of discussion for Middle-earth: Shadow of War. The game includes loot boxes that players can purchase, though reviews have indicated that these microtransactions never interfere with the core gameplay experience. The game was designed to be balanced in a way that doesn't require players to spend additional money to progress or enjoy the content fully.

Critical reception of Middle-earth: Shadow of War has been mixed, with particular focus on the narrative elements. While the Nemesis System and gameplay mechanics have been widely praised, some critics felt that the story failed to live up to the rich lore of Tolkien's work. The game has been described as "a brilliant game, let down by a terrible story" by some reviewers, who appreciated the gameplay but felt the narrative was underdeveloped.

Conclusion

Middle-earth: Shadow of War has been available through multiple free distribution channels, including PlayStation Plus and Amazon Prime Gaming. These promotional offers have allowed gamers to experience this title without cost during specific time-limited periods. Additionally, the Forthog Orc Slayer DLC was made freely available to all players after initially being planned as a paid charitable DLC.

The predecessor, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, has also been offered through Prime Gaming, providing an opportunity for players to experience both games in the series. These free distribution methods represent common promotional strategies in the gaming industry, allowing publishers to reach wider audiences while generating interest in their titles.

For consumers interested in accessing these free offers, timing is crucial, as promotional periods are typically limited. Subscription-based platforms like PlayStation Plus and Amazon Prime Gaming regularly rotate their free game selections, creating opportunities for players to build their libraries without additional cost.

Sources

1. Engadget - PlayStation Plus PS5 Free Games
2. The Shortcut - Amazon Prime Gaming October 2022
3. TechRadar - Amazon Prime Middle-earth: Shadow of War
4. PlayStation Lifestyle - Assassin's Creed Easter Egg
5. VG247 - Forthog Orc Slayer DLC Now Free
6. Fandom - Shadow of War Review