Unlike a full pirated repack, a "CrackOnly" patch assumes you already have a legitimate license. In many jurisdictions, circumventing DRM for personal use—even on a bought copy—violates the DMCA’s anti-circumvention provisions (Section 1201). However, no individual user has ever been sued for applying a crack to a game they own.
The original CODEX release (October 2017) worked but had problems:
Later, a “CODEX fixed” version appeared (sometimes called “Shadow of War – CODEX Fix Repack”) that addressed:
Let’s be clear: Downloading a cracked copy of Shadow of War without purchasing it is copyright infringement in most jurisdictions. Developers and publishers rely on sales to fund future projects. Monolith Productions, for example, has since moved on to a Wonder Woman game — but revenue from Shadow of War helped shape that decision.
That said, the conversation around DRM is more nuanced. Some legitimate players argue that Denuvo harms paying customers more than pirates, citing performance hits and activation limits. In 2021, Denuvo itself claimed its impact on performance is minimal, but independent tests have shown mixed results.
Cracking software to bypass DRM violates the game’s EULA and copyright laws in most countries.
This write-up is only for historical/educational understanding of how game cracking groups label releases – not an endorsement of piracy.
The legitimate version is often cheap on sales and supports the developers. middleearthshadowofwarcrackonlycodex fixed
The term "fixed" in this context refers to community-driven patches that correct the following:
Without the fix, the crack-only version is borderline unplayable, especially on Windows 10/11 with newer GPU drivers.
Step 1: Copy the Fixed Crack Files
Step 2: Navigate to Your Game Installation Directory
Step 3: Backup Original Crack Files
Step 4: Paste the Fixed Files
Step 5: Edit CODEX.ini (Optional but Recommended)
Step 6: Block the Game in Firewall
Step 7: Launch the Game
Shadow of War shipped with Denuvo, a controversial anti-tamper technology known for being difficult to crack. Denuvo doesn’t permanently prevent cracking — it delays it. In 2017, a Denuvo crack could take weeks or months. Codex and other groups (CPY, Steampunks) raced to break it. Unlike a full pirated repack, a "CrackOnly" patch
The “fixed” versions often emerged after Denuvo issued updates, forcing crackers to re-engineer their bypass. For a time, cracked copies of Shadow of War were unstable. The “fixed” tag helped users find a version that actually worked from start to finish.
Due to the age of this release, many download sites now bundle malware with the "Middle-earth: Shadow of War CrackOnly Codex Fixed" archive. Do not trust:
The clean version’s file list:
Virustotal should show 2-3 false positives (generic "hacktool" flags). If more than 10 engines detect malware, delete immediately.