Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game will launch on March 25, 2025, a solid date but one that will make fans wait a wee bit longer.
The game is coming from Take-Two Interactive’s Private Division publishing label and Wētā Workshop, the creative studio known for their work on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The duo had considered launching Tales of the Shire this fall, but now it is coming next year on the PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Netflix Games.
It’s a cozy game that invites you to fulfill your dreams of living the idyllic countryside life of the Shire. You can spend your days full of jovial meals with Hobbit friends, foraging for tasty morsels, and decorating your home. The announcement was made on Hobbit Day, September 22, which is celebrated as the birthdays of the characters Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. This title is the kind of game that gives mental peace to gamers and it’s increasingly popular as a category.
The companies also showed off a 90-minute preview that gives you a flavor for the quiet life of a Hobbit in J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Normally, The Lord of the Rings games and shows — including Amazon’s The Rings of Power Season Two — let you feast on serious combat with orcs and trolls. But this game has none of that — just the peaceful life of fishing, gathering, cooking and eating.
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You can create your unique Hobbit avatar, choosing from a variety of very Hobbit-specific features to express yourself – including foot-hair styles and personality ‘moods’ that bring your character to life. Then you set out to make your home in sleepy Bywater and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in the Shire.
“Wētā Workshop has been trusted with J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth universe for more than 25 years, and over that time we have built up a deep understanding of the lore and a real love of Middle-earth that flows through our creative work across screen, collectibles and now, our cozy sims games,” said Richard Taylor, Co-founder and CEO at Wētā Workshop, in a statement. “Tales of the Shire allows us to inspire our talents in an entirely new medium and, ultimately, create this game for people just like us – fans of The Lord of the Rings. This is a beautiful way that players who are looking for a quieter, more peaceful time can discover this in a less explored corner of this universe.”
This small, growing community is home to a humorous cast of residents, who will request your aid in placing Bywater on the Shire’s map as an official village. To accomplish this goal, you will grow and nurture relationships with other characters. For most Hobbits, the best way to build bonds with others is through the comforts of a warm meal.
Much like in real life, cooking requires proper preparation, careful attention, and a “dash of this or that” for the perfect feast. Chop up home grown vegetables, sauté foraged mushrooms, perhaps add a tart pickle or a dollop of sweet jam to balance the dish. Every meal has various steps to complete to earn multiple stars, all in an effort to present a dish that satisfies and delights your guests.
As a newly established Hobbit, you’ll have access to the essentials — a bedroom, a lounge, and your pantry and kitchen to prepare meals for expected and unexpected guests. From these humble beginnings, you’ll soon be able to expand your space and supplies — fishing, foraging, gardening, and trading with your neighbors.
This will quickly enable you to establish a well-stocked pantry and upgraded tools for harvesting and cooking. The shops of Bywater are bustling with many vendors who are willing to sell you all kinds of ingredients, as well as decorative items for your Hobbit home.
You can meet humorous and interesting characters like Old Noakes, a cantankerous master angler. Not only can he give you tips on improving your own fishing skills, and help unlock secret fishing spots, he trades his daily catches. Nora and Fosco Burrows’ shop is stocked to the brim with adornments for your home as well as other charming items to fill out your wardrobe. There are many other Hobbits awaiting you in Bywater, so be sure to meet and invite them over for a second breakfast.
If you are not feeling up to the bustle of the market, wander through the fields and the forests to scavenge for seasonal items. Collect some juicy berries for a fresh summer tart or mushrooms to add to a harvest pie. Butterflies often flutter by and when closely followed can guide you to new discoveries. Beyond the rounded opening of your Hobbit home, a short venture reveals a bounty – your very own garden. This fully customizable area allows you to place multiple plots.
Want to place a daybed in your garden? Perhaps you’d like to create a summer table setting? The space is yours to create! Your garden offers a personal touch to your Hobbit life, and here you can grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, and other harvestable ingredients. Just be sure to take proper care by watering and checking on them daily.
“The Lord of the Rings is an extraordinary world, beloved by hundreds of millions, and people have been clamoring for a game to bring the community, fellowship, and warmth of the Shire to life,” said Eric Correll, head of marketing at Private Division, in a statement. “In Tales of the Shire, Wētā Workshop has created the countryside village of Bywater like no one else could do, and we can’t wait for gamers to unwind, relax, and explore.”
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is possible due to Middle-earth Enterprises having licensed the literary works of The Lord of the Rings series and providing Wētā Workshop Game Studio with the creative license.
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