10 Most Predatory Loot Box & Microtransaction Systems In Video Games
4. Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War
Over to Monolith and Warner Bros., as after EA, WB should be next on the chopping block.
These are the guys that made NetherRealm put paid fatalities in Mortal Kombat X, and in Shadow of War you can tell they instructed Monolith to do the same with its orcs.
Now we have a game where the duel between developer artistry and publisher meddling is clear for all to see. Combat and progression is solid and enjoyable - but then you realise the strongest orcs are all tucked away inside loot boxes.
And why does this matter?
Well, it's mostly avoidable for the majority of the campaign, but the endgame (named Shadow Wars) tasks you with defending a potentially never-ending stream of fortresses, to which you'll need the biggest and best orcs to stand guard.
You can grind your way through (though it'll take an exorbitant amount of time), or cough up your cash to the in-game vendor, who'll give you orcs in exchange for real cash.
They always die after a handful of fights anyway, ensuring you go back for more...