Nintendo bringing Nintendo Network ID and Miiverse to 3DS

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As part of a Nintendo Direct broadcast this week, Nintendo announced news of Nintendo Network ID, Miiverse and the video-sharing service YouTube making their way to the Nintendo 3DS family of consoles. Hosted by Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata, the broadcast focused primarily on Nintendo 3DS software launching in the coming months, including new reveals for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Bravely Default and Mario Party: Island Tour. In addition, football fans will be excited to hear of a new football management game coming to Nintendo 3DS, as well as a launch date for the third instalment in the Inazuma Eleven 3 series.

Nintendo 3DS

Meanwhile for Wii U owners, today’s broadcast revealed numerous ways in which to enjoy SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD when it releases in just over a fortnight, as well as new and original downloadable content coming for owners of Pikmin 3.

Nintendo 3DS News

  • Nintendo Network ID & Miiverse: A December system update will allow users to register their Nintendo Network ID for Wii U on their Nintendo 3DS systems  and combine Nintendo eShop account balances. This will enable them to  purchase Wii U software using the remaining balance on their Nintendo 3DS      eShop accounts, and vice versa. Nintendo 3DS owners who do not own a Wii U system can also create their own Nintendo Network ID for the first time. This system update will also mark the beginning of Miiverse support on Nintendo 3DS. With a Nintendo Network ID, users will be able to connect with other players around the world to share their experiences and game tips through Miiverse on Nintendo 3DS. For more information about Nintendo Network ID, including some important notices Nintendo would like customers      to be aware of, please visit our website here.
  • YouTube on Nintendo 3DS: The video-sharing service YouTube is coming to Nintendo 3DS later this month, with users able to watch videos while on the go,  providing they have internet access. Users will be able to browse content on the bottom screen, while watching a different video on the top screen.
  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds:  In Link’s latest adventure, engage in special battles against players met through StreetPass by creating a Shadow Link that will be sent to others during StreetPass encounters. The items equipped and the number of hearts you have will affect the rupee bounty on your Shadow Link’s head, likewise with the Shadow Link characters of other players who will appear at certain places in the game world. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds launches on 22nd  November.
  • Bravely  Default: An English-language demo of Bravely Default is available for download from today on Nintendo eShop. The combat mechanics      in this highly anticipated RPG include the Bravely Second feature, which  freezes time during a battle. Attacks during Bravely Second use Sleep      Points that can be accrued when players leave their Nintendo 3DS in Sleep Mode. Launching on 6th December, the game can also be purchased at ShopTo as part of a Bravely Default Deluxe Collector’s Edition, including a copy of the game, Agnès figurine, deluxe artbook, 34 AR Cards and an original soundtrack CD.
  • Mario Party: Island Tour: Mario’s  latest party has a tropical theme, with seven new game boards and 80 new minigames, including some that use the motion controls of Nintendo 3DS,  and the ability for four Nintendo 3DS owners to play all multiplayer game content with only one copy of the game via Download Play. Players can also engage with other players who have the game in StreetPass minigame competitions. The game is releasing on 17th January 2014.
  • Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks!: The latest title in the Inazuma Eleven 3 series is coming to Nintendo 3DS on 14th February 2014. Team      Ogre Attacks! follows the story of Canon Evans, great-grandson of Mark Evans from the future, as you set your sights on becoming footballing world champion! Players will also be able to connect with Inazuma Eleven 3: Lightning Bolt and Inazuma Eleven 3: Bomb Blast via the new “Ogre Premium Link” to receive special items and rare players not      available through normal gameplay.
  • Nintendo      Pocket Football Club: Coming to Nintendo eShop in 2014, this new football management game puts players in charge of their very own football club, from deciding on the club’s emblem and kit, to training players and overseeing tactics on match days. In addition to single player mode, players will be able to compete in local wireless matches against friends, as well as taking on fellow managers across Europe in an online multiplayer mode..
  • StreetPass Relay Point update: As announced in a separate video released alongside the Nintendo Direct presentation, from 14th November an update to the StreetPass Relay Points across Europe will allow Nintendo 3DS users visiting these relay points to receive data from up to six different Mii characters, regardless of the location or how busy it is normally. Relay points from across Europe will also be able to exchange data with each      other, meaning the StreetPass data area is widened and users have a much better chance of receiving data when visiting one. Extra content available      at relay points is also planned in the near future to improve the      StreetPass experience further.
  • Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai: Available from today as a download on Nintendo eShop, Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai lets players explore the Power Plant Posse’s home world in a combination of 2D and 3D platforming, plus numerous hidden secrets and multiple gameplay modes to unlock.

 

Wii U News

  • SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD:  This latest Nintendo Direct presents ten new things included in the game, including the ability to      play as Rosalina from Super      Mario Galaxy, a Luigi      Bros. bonus game that is more easily accessed for players who have New Super Luigi U save      data on their systems, and Captain Toad levels, which challenge players to collect five stars without jumping. SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD releases on 29th November.
  • Animal  Crossing Plaza update: The Wii U gathering place for Animal Crossing fans is being upgraded with two new features on 14th  November:
    • After users perform a software update, they can customise their Miiverse posts using 50 different Animal Crossing stamps. Users can combine multiple stamps or add hand-drawn messages to decorate posts they have already stamped. They can even partially erase a stamp and redraw it any way they like.
    • Nintendo is also adding a ranking feature to display the results of monthly polls. November’s question is “Who would make the best secretary?” and December’s theme will be “Who is the neighbour of the year?”
    • Additional features, including the ability to register and interact with your town residents, will be added in a future update
  • Further Pikmin 3 downloadable      content: A third volume of downloadable Mission Mode Add-On Stages for Pikmin 3 will incorporate completely new “Collect Treasure” and “Battle Enemies” stages with locations as varied as beaches, the inside of someone’s house during a party, a construction site and a mysterious factory. In one stage players can control Captain Olimar, the main character from Pikmin and Pikmin 2. Even Louie makes an appearance! Released on 2nd December, a software update required to play this third volume will be released on the same day.
  • YouTube on Wii U update: The already released YouTube application on Wii U is to receive an upgrade later this month, which will greatly improve the interface and let users view videos on the Wii U GamePad, plus enable users to search content on the GamePad whilst watching a different video      on the TV screen.
  • Wii Fit U: A free trial of the game is available on Nintendo eShop now until 31st January. Wii U owners with a Wii Balance Board accessory and a broadband Internet connection can download the trial and play it for free for 31 days. Users can make the trial permanent by buying and syncing a Fit Meter to the software. On 13th December Wii Fit U will launch in retail as a packaged game in two sets, one including the game disc and Fit Meter, the other including the game disc, Fit Meter and  Wii Balance Board.

Wii Sports Club: Another game currently available as a free download on Nintendo eShop, Wii Sports Club features classic Wii Sports events such as Tennis and Bowling, updated with  Wii Remote Plus controls, online play and Miiverse features. Users can play the game for free for 24 hours beginning when the software is started for the first time. If you want to keep playing, users can purchase a 24-hour Day Pass or a Single Sports Pass for users to play their favourite sports for as long as they like.

GTA Online Free Beach Bum Update Hits Next Week and more

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Get ready to tear up the coast and kick up some sand with the free Grand Theft Auto Online Beach Bum update that will be coming next week Tuesday 19th November. All the new Beach Bum content will be added automatically to GTA Online through the next title update (1.06), and will include two new weapons, a quartet of rugged and fun new vehicles for land and sea, lots of new action-packed Jobs, plus a wide variety of suitably rad new apparel, hairstyle and tattoo customization options. Read on for more details.

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New Jobs

The Beach Bum update will bring a slew of new action-packed Jobs to GTA Online next week. These include new beach-themed Races, Deathmatches, Parachutes, Last Team Standings, Survivals as well as Gang Attacks for those who enjoy a good territorial skirmish.

Here are just a few of our favourite new ones that are on the way:

  • Grass Route II” (Race): In this sequel to the original popular Grass Route Race,  go off-road in an epic heat starting on the North bank of the Zancudo River through the treacherous wetlands with a triumphant finish on he beach in North Chumash.
  • “Survival on Del Perro Pier“(Survival): Skip the ferris wheel for a deadlier kind of thrill ride as you take on waves of relentless enemies at this beachfront attraction.
  • View of Vespucci” (Parachuting): This leap sends you from 2,980 feet, down towards Vespucci Beach, weaving through palm trees to land on the basketball courts of the rec centre. If you’ve got skills, it’s possible to freefall through the first few checkpoints before even opening your chute.
  • Paleto Beach” (Team Deathmatch): The locals complain that not a lot happens in this sleepy town, so do them a favour and wake ’em up with a barrage of gunfire exchanged between you and a rival team. This Team Deathmatch takes place right on the romantic shoreline for 4-8 players.
  • Sundae Driving” (Bike Race): Sure to be a new fan-favorite motorbike race, menace Vespucci Beach on your two-wheel rocket, taking breakneck corners as you try and best the competition.

Expect these and lots more Jobs to be added to Grand Theft Auto Online next week.

 

New Vehicles
Hit the shore with four sand-and-surf-ready vehicles perfect to take on the all new Beach Bum Races and Vehicle Deathmatches: the BF Bifta dune buggy, the rugged Canis Kalahari off-road truck, the Bravado Paradise beach camper van and making a special return to the GTA series, the fast and stylish Speeder speedboat. All four vehicles will be available at no in-game cost, with the land-based vehicles accessible from the southernsanandreassuperautos.com website and the Speeder available via docktease.com on your in-game phone (call Pegasus for delivery). These vehicles are also available in Story Mode for Michael, Trevor and Franklin to enjoy – to access them, visit your garage property and the Marina property for the vehicles and the boat respectively.

New Weapons

Expand your arsenal with two new free weapons – the compact yet deadly SNS Pistol and the brutal new Broken Bottle melee weapon which is quite effective at delivering the appropriate message in up close and personal encounters. Each weapon will be available gratis from any Ammu-Nation location in GTA Online and will be added straight into each of the three characters’ inventory in Story Mode.

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New Customization Options

You’ll be able to deck out your GTA Online character with all new beach-ready customization options including stylish board shorts, neon surfer attire, wild tribal tattoos, shaggy hair for that West Coast laissez-faire vibe and more…

Deadfall Adventures Arctic gameplay trailer

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Nordic Games has unveiled the second of three gameplay trailers from the upcoming release of their action-driven first-person shooter Deadfall Adventures, out tomorrow the 15th November  for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

The Arctic trailer gives players a glimpse of this frosty region in Deadfall Adventures. As James Lee Quatermain, players brave the icy depths the arctic brings and battle an onslaught of zombies and Nazis, as they continue in the hunt for the Heart of Atlantis. The stunning but treacherous conditions the location brings, adds to the thrilling atmosphere which the game delivers in spades.

The Digital Deluxe Edition of the game which includes exclusive content can be pre-ordered now at the same price as the Standard Edition for £32.99 from Steam

New Thief screenshots released for Lockdown mission

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Square Enix and Eidos-Montréal, have released a new selection of screenshots and concept art taken from a mission at the beginning of the game called ‘Lockdown’.

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Baron Northcrest has enforced a ruthless lockdown on the population of the City to control the uprising and quell the spread of a mysterious sickness that spreads through the streets, gripping people’s minds with crippling nightmares and terrible voices in their heads. Nobody feels safe from the sickness that the people on the streets call ‘The Gloom’.

Having returned to the City Garrett must reach his hideout on the other side of the Baron’s brutal lockdown, although he overhears of some precious items in a nearby jewelry store. He chooses to infiltrate the store on the way and although he knows this won’t be easy, he can’t help but steal a glimpse of what lies inside.

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Joe Khoury is the Lead Designer on Thief, working for Eidos-Montréal, who have a great track record when it comes to games, including DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION, and I recently had the chance to talk to him about THIEF:

THIEF is due for release on Windows PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on 28th February 2014 in Europe and other PAL territories.

Meet the Motorola Moto G

Today Motorola announced the Moto G, a new low-cost entry-level smartphone for global markets. With the Moto G it doesn’t skimp on features for the smartphone, but Motorola is selling it from £134.95/ $179 (8GB) unlocked and without contract with the 16GB version for (£159 /$199).

Moto G - Colours

Despite its bargain basement price tag, the Moto G has a large 4.5-inch, 720p LCD TFT display, a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8 or 16GB of storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 2,070mAh battery. Aesthetically, the Moto G looks almost identical to the Moto X, with a very similar shape and feel.

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The Moto G includes:

  • A brilliant 4.5-inch HD display – the sharpest in its class – that goes edge-to-edge so you can enjoy movies, photos, video chats and more.
  • The newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor for seamless multitasking and enjoying the web, videos and games, with all-day battery life.
  • Android 4.3 Jellybean, the most up to date Android of any phone in its class, with a guaranteed upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat at the beginning of 2014. No skins to clutter or slow the experience, and great performance with Google’s unbeatable mobile services such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Chrome and Hangouts.
  • Stylish design with a comfortable curved back and 19 customisation options, including interchangeable Motorola Shells, Flip Shells and Grip Shells in seven colours.

moto g

Moto G goes on sale this week in Brazil and parts of Europe and will be available within the next few weeks throughout Latin America, Europe, Canada and parts of Asia. It will be available in the US, India, the Middle East and more of Asia in early January. Moto G will be in more than 30 countries with 60 partners by 2014.

Moto G will be available in the UK and Ireland from £134.95 SIM free with 8GB of storage and from £159 SIM free for 16GB. It will be available through various carriers and retailers including Orange and T-Mobile, O2, Phones 4u, TechData and Tesco Mobile. Availability in the UK starts from today.

Ubisoft releases trailer for Fighter Within

Ubisoft have released a trailer for their forthcoming Xbox One game Fighter Within.

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This trailer offers a humorous look at a few of the moves featured in Fighter Within, available at launch of the Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Through Kinect, players will utilize their body — instead of a controller — to duke it out with their friends, throwing punches, jabs and kicks. Fighter Within offers the thrill and exhilaration of a fight with none of the fallout, giving players an adrenaline rush and a bang-up time with their friends.

WD Expands My cloud Family with Four Bay Personal Cloud Storage System

Western Digital has expanded its recently introduced My Cloud family of personal cloud solutions with My Cloud EX4, a high-performance four-bay network attached storage (NAS) solution for creative professionals, prosumers, workgroups and anyone looking for a reliable way to save, share, back up, stream and manage massive amounts of digital data.

“The reception for our recently introduced My Cloud personal cloud platform was extremely positive,” said Jim Welsh, executive vice president and general manager of WD’s branded products and consumer electronics groups. “Our single drive My Cloud system is the perfect solution for users that want an easy and private way to store all of their data at home and then share, save and manage it from anywhere in the world, on any device. Expanding our My Cloud platform to a four-bay system delivers the advanced features, customisation capability and capacity that many of our customers are looking for.”

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Featuring the category leading WD Red line of hard drives specifically designed for home and small office NAS systems, My Cloud EX4 customers enjoy ultimate reliability from the trusted name in storage. WD Red drives are powered by NASware 2.0 technology, which improves drive reliability and protects customer data in the event of a power loss or disruption. Additionally, WD Red hard drives feature 3D Active Balance Plus, an enhanced balance control technology that significantly improves overall drive performance and reliability.

My Cloud EX4 provides several capacity options, allowing customers to choose from a drive-less enclosure that allows customers to customise their capacity and add additional drives as their library of digital content grows, or an 8 TB, 12 TB or 16 TB model. With Easy-Slide-Drive technology, My Cloud EX4 allows customers to easily install or hot-swap drives in seconds, without the need for a screwdriver, toolkit or trays. Additionally, customers can attach a compatible USB 3.0 hard drives to the USB expansion ports on the My Cloud EX4 to instantly expand their storage capacity.

Ultimate Data Protection

My Cloud EX4 arms users with multiple options to secure digital data from a potential loss by providing RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 or allowing users to select from spanning and JBOD modes for even more options to manage data. Customers can also use their My Cloud EX4 to back up all of their computers and devices with WD SmartWare Pro software for PC users. Mac users can utilise all the features of Apple Time Machine backup software to protect their data. The My Cloud EX4 can also backup itself, either to another My Cloud EX4 in a different location, or to cloud services such as Amazon S3 and ElephantDrive. To ensure 24/7 data protection and reliability the My Cloud EX4 includes redundant power supplies and Ethernet ports.

Advanced Streaming and Serving

My Cloud EX4 serves as a home’s digital entertainment hub, configurable for up to 16 TB of movies and music that can then be streamed to any DLNA/UPnP certified multimedia device such as gaming consoles, smart TVs and WD TV Live media players. The Twonky 7.2, DLNA-certified 1.5 media server and iTunes server make for simple streaming of large movie and music libraries.

Additionally, the integrated file server, FTP server, backup server and P2P download server provide advanced data serving options for My Cloud EX4 users.

Customers can also customise their NAS, monitor system health, manage users and energy saving features with the My Cloud EX4 dashboard, as well as use a suite of third party apps, including aMule, Icecast, Joomla!, phpBB, phpMyAdmin and SqueezeCenter.

Anywhere Access to My Cloud EX4

Available for iOS and Android devices, the WD My Cloud mobile app allows users to view photos, stream video and share, save and manage files from anywhere on their smartphones or tablets. The mobile app makes file sharing and collaborating simple and secure, allowing customers to easily email files, share files as a link, and print and open files with third party apps. The My Cloud mobile app integrates major public cloud services so that customers can easily transfer files from their Dropbox, SkyDrive and Google Drive public cloud accounts.

Price and Availability

My Cloud EX4 is currently available at select retailers and online at the www.wdstore.co.uk . MSRP is £319.00 for the drive-less My Cloud EX4, £679.00 for 8 TB, £799.00 for 12 TB and £999.00 for 16 TB. The My Cloud mobile app currently is available for download from the App Store and Google Play. My Cloud EX4 comes with a two year limited warranty.

Compatibility

My Cloud EX4 is compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OS X Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion, Snow Leopard, as well as DLNA/UPnP enabled devices.

Child of Light walkthrough trailer with Brianna Code

Ubisoft released today a walk-through trailer with lead programmer Brianna Code, offering an inside look at the turn based RPG set in the magical world of Lemuria.

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The game is created by a small team of seasoned developers based in Ubisoft Montreal. Child of Light has been developed on Ubisoft’s UbiArt Framework, a powerful engine that lets programmers and artists bring their art to life by allowing original concept art to be inserted unedited into the game world. In Child of Light, the effect is that playing becomes akin to stepping into an interactive painting.

Child of Light is a re-imagining of classic fairy-tales, inviting players on an epic adventure into the magical painted world of Lemuria. Players will uncover mysteries, participate in turn-by-turn combat inspired by classic JRPGs, and explore a mystical kingdom. The game puts players in the shoes of Aurora, a child stolen from her home, who, in her quest to return, must bring back the sun, the moon and the stars held captive by the mysterious Queen of the Night. Helped by her companion Igniculus the firefly and several unlikely allies, Aurora will face her darkest fears, including dragons and other mystical creatures in this modern take on a coming-of-age story.

Brianna Code has more than 10 years of games programming experience, until recently focusing on AI in AAA games. She started at Relic Entertainment in Vancouver on the critically acclaimed RTS Company of Heroes, moved to Pandemic Studios in Australia, and returned to Canada to join Ubisoft Montreal in building the Assassin’s Creed franchise with AC2, AC Brotherhood, and AC3. Very interested in contemporary art and design, she has also exhibited photography and procedurally generated art in Vancouver and Montreal. Brianna is currently Lead Programmer on Child of Light.

AC4 – Black Flag Companion App Lands for iOS and Android

Today, Ubisoft announced that the Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Companion App is now available for free from the App Store for the iPad, and all tablets connecting to Google Play.

Elevate your Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag experience with this unique companion App that turns your tablet device into a second screen that provides you with features that further immerse you into this Caribbean world.

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The Companion App is an indispensable tool for all would-be pirate captains. It acts like your very own quartermaster, so that you will never need to break the flow of gameplay by pausing the game to navigate through certain menus. You are now free to fully concentrate on the job at hand – to gain wealth and infamy on the high seas and in exotic cities.

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The free App includes:

Interactive World Map – More exhaustive than your in-game map; see your mission objectives in real-time, set waypoints, zoom in and out, and search for locations with the tip of your finger. It’s also a great way to involve someone else in your single player experience as a friend can be take on the role of your quartermaster.

Kenway’s Fleet – You can now interact with the main game 24/7, wherever you may be. Use the ships that you have captured to send on missions, secure routes and collect cargo and currency. The Atlantic Ocean is thriving with opportunities and you’ll need many ships to take full advantage. You can even help secure your Uplay friends’ routes and get rewarded.

Progress Tracker – All your game data is stored here, including main mission progress, crafting completion, and your current game status.

Treasure Maps – Find treasure maps in-game and see them on your second screen while you cross-reference the real-world location on your TV.

Initiates Wall – Display received messages, notifications from your friends and find community challenges.

Animus Database – Easily view, at your leisure, all the Animus Database entries unlocked in the main game.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Coming to Current and Next Gen

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Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has today announced Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor , a next-generation, third-person action game  set in Middle-earth that explores an original story of vengeance and redemption. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is in development for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, gamers take on the role of Talion, a valiant ranger whose family is slain in front of him the night Sauron and his army return to Mordor, moments before his own life is taken. Resurrected by a Spirit of vengeance and empowered with Wraith abilities, Talion ventures into Mordor and vows to destroy those who have wronged him.  Through the course of his personal vendetta, Talion uncovers the truth of the Spirit that compels him, learns the origins of the Rings of Power and ultimately confronts his true nemesis.

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“In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, players will explore the dark and very personal theme of vengeance in a world where decisions have a consequence, and those consequences persist even after death,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The game introduces new gameplay mechanics to the action genre, creating opportunities for emergent and customized gameplay that will be rewarding for players.”

Every enemy that players face is a unique individual, differentiated by their personality, strengths and weaknesses. Through the Nemesis System, enemy relationships and characteristics are shaped by player actions and decisions to create personal archenemies that remember and adapt to the player and are distinct to every gameplay session. Gamers are able to craft their own battles, enemies and rewards within the dynamic world that remembers and adapts to their choices, delivering a unique experience to every player.

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Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is under development by Monolith Productions. The team has collaborated with Middle-earth Enterprises, Peter Jackson and the artists at Weta Workshop to ensure that the settings, characters and story align authentically within canon.