Monolith’s game might have been delayed because of this feature…

According to the forum post by the developers, there will be a Market in the game. You might think that you can spend the in-game currency, the Mirian here. You’re right… but you can also spend gold here, which you can get by buying them with real money. What can you get? Quoting Monolith:

• Loot Chests contain Gear (weapons and armor) of varying rarity. Equipping and upgrading these weapons and armor enhance Talion’s character abilities. Loot Chests can also contain XP Boosts that help level up Talion faster.
• War Chests provide Orc followers of varying rarity to help forge a strong army. They can also contain Training Orders to level up and customize Orc followers.
• XP Boosts are consumables that help level up Talion faster.
• Bundles package up Loot Chests, War Chests and Boosts together at a great value.

Microtransactions. Great – if you don’t want to discover the open world, you can just toss money at Monolith and Warner to level up faster than by normal gameplay. However, if you reach certain milestones in the game (or by completing certain community challenges), you will still get some gold. Pricing is not known yet, but the developers announced on Discord that you will be required to be online for the Market.

According to Eurogamer, the game will still have an online component. Shadow of War will include Social Conquest, which is something like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’s Forward Operating Base missions. You can attack other players’ fortresses that they cleaned out in the game (by killing all enemy Orcs), and you may also get under attack, too. Install commanders and captains from your army, then improve your defenses. Then, you can share the fortress online if you want to do so.

The game mode will have two types. Friendly conquests will not permanently kill your lost army members – after the conquest; you will get them back. However, the ranked version’s effects will be permanent. If you win, you get loot chests, as well as spoils of war (probably gear), but we don’t know what the loser will get yet. Vendettas will also make a return from Shadow of Mordor, but here, you will have to complete certain objectives first to get the attention of the Orc that killed your friend.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War will launch on October 10 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.