Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor announced for Xbox One, PS4, and current-gen

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, a new third-person action game set in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy universe of Middle-earth, has been announced by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Developed by Monolith Productions, the studio behind Guardians of Middle-Earth, Shadow of Mordor will be released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.

In the game, you'll play as Talion, a valiant ranger whose family is slain right in front of him the night Sauron and his army return to Mordor, moments before his own life is taken. Talion, resurrected by a Spirit of vengeance and empowered with Wraith abilities, will venture into Mordor on a quest to destroy those who wronged him. On that journey, Talion will learn the truth of the Spirit that compels him, learn the origins of the Rings of Power and confront his "true nemesis."

“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 Warner's Samantha Ryan. “The game introduces new gameplay mechanics to the action genre, creating opportunities for emergent and customized gameplay that will be rewarding for players.”

These new mechanics are made possible through the Nemesis System, a powerful and dynamic gameplay mechanic that allows your actions to shape enemy relationships and characteristics which, in turn, will create a personal and unique story. Each enemy you encounter is unique in that they have their own personality, strengths and weaknesses. You actions will ultimately create personal archenemies that remember and adapt to your playstyle during a gameplay session.

No release date has been announced yet, but we are probably looking at a 2015 launch, late 2014 at the earliest.