Lord of the Rings Tales of the Shire: Release window, trailers, everything we know

Tales of the Shire brings the beloved world from The Lord of the Rings into an adorable, cozy game. So, here’s all we know about Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game.

Whether it’s stellar films, the additive books, or the questionable Gollum video game, it’s clear The Lord of the Rings has fully cemented itself into the hearts of many. Now, it’ll soon be bringing that love into the cozy game genre in the form of Tales of the Shire.

So, if you’re ready to step back into Middle-earth and explore life as a Hobbit, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game.

Trailers

Private Division released the first official announcement trailer on April 22, 2024. It gives a real sense of what to expect, with Tales of the Shire explaining that this is not a story of grand adventure but one of “new beginnings.”

Set in the never-before-seen village of Bywater, this tucked-away corner of the Shire is yours to shape. The trailer shows players exploring the outskirts of town and the wider Shire itself. There are also potentially familiar faces for eagle-eyed fans.

On June 18, 2024, the Nintendo Direct introduced a short snippet of Tales of the Shire gameplay. The footage included exciting features such as gardening, cooking, and fishing. You can even customize your character and host dinner parties with your villagers.

Prior to these trailers, most of the information for Tales of the Shire came from a charming little teaser dropped on September 22, 2023. For everyone who’s not a complete nerd, that’s Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday, which is internationally recognized as Hobbit Day.

Lord of the Rings Tales of the Shire release window

Tales of the Shire will be released on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series consoles, and PC in early 2025.

While it was previously planned for a holiday 2024 release, the devs announced a delay on September 12, 2024 to ensure the experience is “everything you’re hoping for.”

We’ll update this article after we receive a specific release date for the game.

Hobbit Day Showcase

While Tales of the Shire won’t be out in 2024, those looking forward to it will be able to learn more about the game during a Hobbit Day showcase. This will stream live on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter/X, and Tik Tok on September 22 at 10:30 PT/1:30 ET/6:30 BT.

Genre

While not directly stated in the trailer, a Tales of the Shire press release defines it as a “cozy The Lord of the Rings game.” Cozy games comprise multiple genres, but there’s a definite throughline.

Most cozy games tend to have lifestyle simulation elements, commonly including resource management and building. Stardew Valley and Disney Dreamlight Valley are the go-to points of reference for cozy games like this one, so expect Tales of the Shire to evoke these titles in some fashion.

The trailers have shown all the usual activities, such as foraging for food, gardening, fishing, and cooking a hearty second breakfast. Like any cozy game worth its salt, Tales of the Shire also lets you decorate your very own Hobbit hole

Developers

New Line Cinema

Tales of the Shire may be a cottagecore lover’s dream.

Tales of the Shire is being developed by Weta Workshop and published by Private Division.

Weta Workshop is a New Zealand-based prop and special effects company that has never developed a video game before. They have a rather impressive resume in film, working on all three The Lord of the Rings movies.

The company was responsible for costumes, but more importantly, they crafted miniaturized versions of locations like Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith that helped the films meet today’s special effects standards.

Private Division is a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive and has helped bring players Hades and Outer Worlds.

That’s everything we know about Tales of the Shire so far. For more on upcoming games, check out our hubs on GTA 6, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Indiana Jones & the Great Circle.