Summary

• Get ready to return to the Shire in Tales of the Shire, a cozy simulation game set in a peaceful LOTR universe.
• Players can customize avatars, gather resources, cook meals, and build relationships in a laid-back setting.
• Explore Bywater, interact with neighbors, and enjoy festivals in this unique LOTR game.

Wētā Workshop and Private Division have officially announced a new title, Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, coming later this year. This is the first collaboration by developer Wētā Workshop, known for its work on the special effects in The Lord of the Rings film series, and Private Division, the prolific publisher of indie games ranging from Kerbal Space Program and The Outer Worlds to Rollerdrome and Olli Olli World.

Although little but the broadest details are available about Tales of the Shire, it's finally possible to get a first look at its gameplay. And most importantly, it has a release window, so players who want to return to Hobbiton can clear their schedules in preparation. Here's everything to know about Tales of the Shire: A LOTR game so far.

Tales Of The Shire: Release Window & Platforms

When Does The New LOTR Game Come Out?

Tales of the Shire is scheduled for release in the second half of 2024, although just what month and day isn't yet clear. Even though the existence of a LOTR game developed by Wētā Workshop was teased back in August 2022, little was known about the game until just recently. Its title, along with a couple of pieces of concept art, were revealed in a brief teaser in September 2023. The release date and first gameplay details premiered in the announcement trailer seen above.

Tales of the Shire will be available on most current-gen platforms, including the Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. There's no word on a release for previous-gen consoles like PS4 or Xbox One yet, so it looks like players on those platforms will need to upgrade for Tales of the Shire.

Tales Of The Shire: Gameplay Details

Tales of the Shire takes place in the LOTR universe - specifically in the town of Bywater. Players have free rein over the town, a land of rolling hills, babbling brooks, and lush greenery. However, unlike other LOTR games, Tales of the Shire is set in a time of peace. There are no grand adventures, all-powerful rings, or raging battles. Much like the life Bilbo Baggins envisions for himself, Tales of the Shire is lighthearted, idyllic, and relaxing. It's the first game of its kind in the LOTR franchise, and could explore a very different period in The Shire's history.

Although Bywater is distinguished from Hobbiton in the novels and most adaptations, the film version of LOTR fuses the two towns for brevity's sake.

In short, Tales of the Shire is a cozy game in which players take on the role of happy Hobbits. There are shades of Stardew Valley to it, but the closest comparison might be Animal Crossing - there doesn't appear to be any combat at all. Instead, not unlike the resource-gathering gameplay of Return to Moria, activities focus on collection and crafting. Players can customize their avatars and their Hobbit holes, building furniture to create inviting interiors. They'll gather ingredients by fishing, foraging, or gardening, and use their kitchens to whip up hearty meals that'll impress the neighbors.

Tales of the Shire will also have a relationship system similar to most other cozy games. Players can do odd jobs for their neighbors, invite them over to break bread, or give them gifts to raise their affinity over time. It's unknown just how far this system will reach, or whether it'll include familiar faces from elsewhere in the LOTR franchise. However, a gray-robed wizard suspiciously resembling Gandalf does appear briefly in the announcement trailer.

Tales of the Shire is also affected by some manner of calendar system. Time es realistically: there's a day-night cycle, and a system of seasons that may affect resource gathering. There also appear to be festivals, likely tied to specific dates, which may include unique activities or opportunities to get closer to other Hobbits. Players are likely to find secret events and useful gardening strategies tied to different dates, times, and places - exploring Bywater will probably be half the fun.

That's everything Wētā Workshop and Private Division have revealed about Tales of the Shire for now. Further details, including a more specific release window and some additional gameplay footage, are likely to be revealed closer to launch. For many LOTR fans, it's long been a dream to live the life of a Hobbit. They'll be able to get one step closer when Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is released in the second half of 2024.