New Battle for Middle-earth II add-on info

Fresh details and a bunch o' screens for EA's The Rise of the Witch-king expansion

Do you prefer pulling the wings off flies to giving them a little kiss on the head? Then, well done! You're the perfect candidate for EA's forthcoming Battle for Middle-earth II expansion, The Rise of the Witch-king, which promises to let players explore their dark side in the world of Tolkien.

Set to gallop toward PC this October, the expansion offers a completely new faction - the Angmar, playable in skirmish, multiplayer and War of the Ring modes - as well as tossing in additional units for the existing six playable factions. On top of that, there's a new single-player campaign, providing the chance to revel in the evil side of Battle for Middle-earth II as players follow the story of "the evil Witch-king's rise to power, domination of Angmar and invasion of the great kingdom of Arnor, home to Aragorn's ancestors".

Plans are also afoot for Battle for Middle-earth II's War of the Ring and Create-A-Hero modes, offering new additions and weapons for the former unique Troll class, while War of the Ring is set to offer "upgraded army persistence, a new siege dynamic on the Living World Map, and unified territories that serve as major control points".

According to Mike Verdu, executive producer at EA LA, "The Lord of Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king" will transport players to a new time and place in Middle-earth while adding strategic depth to the innovative gameplay gamers loved in The Lord of Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II. Fans will love exploring the evil side of Middle-earth as described in Tolkien's fiction and brought to life in the visual style of the New Line Cinema films. This game is set to deliver the ultimate RTS Middle-earth experience."

Once again, Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king is set for release this winter - in the meantime, we've a couple of new shots ready for the fiery glare of your retinal probe.

Screens Here