Rise of the Witch King

A NEW ERA HAS BEGUN!

After a year and a half of development, testing and fiddling, we are proud to announce the release of patch 2.02 v8! The wait has been long, and we know you have all been anxiously anticipating this announcement - but rest assured - this is the real deal!

You may download the patch via the button below. It is recommended that you install the full version of the installer as it includes previous version replay compatibility all the way back to version 3.0.0.0 and 80+ new tracks for you to enjoy in-game!



However, if you are on a strict budget, you may download a smaller version of the installer (smaller download size). Bear in mind that the smaller version does not include previous version replay compatibility (i.e. you will not be able to watch replays of older versions), nor does it include the new LotR music tracks.

Now before you jump right to it, we strongly advise you to have a thorough look at the 2.02 v8.0.0 changelog. There are numerous changes and additions, and for those who aspire to rise above the ranks in competitive play, it's imperative that you know what you're doing in-game.

2.02 Main Change Log

What can you expect from 2.02 v8.0.0

The development of patch 2.02 v8.0.0 has been a rough ride from start to finish. The team of dedicated developers, testers, mappers and advisors have put their best into making v8.0.0 an epic patch. Let's dive into the details!

Balance

One of the primary goals of patch 2.02 is to fine-tune balance as best as possible. The development team has stuck to that goal and has promised far more balanced game-play for v8.0.0. Your feedback has been invaluable to us, as it has guided us in developing a more balanced patch.

Not only have many of 2.02's long-standing balance issues been tended to, but we have also resolved some of the serious matchup imbalances created in v7 (an oversight that could only have been detected after several months of gameplay).

Bug-free Gameplay

Another major goal of 2.02 is to bust as many bugs as possible so as to allow players to enjoy smooth game-play. The development team has worked hard at this for v8.0.0. We have managed to crunch about as many bugs as we did for v7 (if not more).

Bugs such as the Drake death/disappearing bug, the unintended super buffed Ballistae bug, missing tracks bug, Wolf Rider stuck bug, Karsh's Whisper of Death bug, etc have all been crunched!

Of course, with change comes the risk of error, and the dev team always appreciates feedback. Make sure to check out our Balance Forum for gameplay discussion (and therein, the Bug Report topic for gameplay oddities), and our Technical Support forum for technical issues. You may also use our official 2.02 Discord server. Whether complimentary or critical, your voice provides essential information for our development!

Creativity and Passion

A lot of creativity and passion has been put into the development of v8.0.0. Multiple changes and additions have been made to the patch to enhance the gameplay for both our online and offline player base. Improved AI and new maps, as well as a plethora of new voice files, music, tooltips, just to name a few.

We are proud of how far we've come, and we believe the wait was well worth it! Massive thanks to everyone involved, and especially to the community for their patience! We know it's been a long wait. The past year and a half saw a significant upheaval in the development process. This version has received enormous attention, and we hope that you will see that too!

If you're new to 2.02 and want to join us online, check out our GameRanger guide.

Check out the official RotWK 2.02 Discord server! Feel free to join and get involved.

Special credits

• Excelsior
• Brabox
• Miraak
• AndySan
• MauHur
• Mako
• TheDestroyer001
• Ab3r`
• DJ Premier
• Thrandier
• Motoma
• Val`
• ToxicShock
• Belenos
• TheRanger
• RiderofRohan
• Silverbane
• StrayHeart
• Withmorten
• SpecialGuest
• Seebs
• Veliamar
• JcGrange
• Mathijs
• All beta testers

Thank you to everyone for the continued support and passion for this game! Let the battle for Middle-earth commence!