Wētā Workshop and publisher Private Division have announced Tales of the Shire, a new game set in the Lord of the Rings universe. Tales of the Shire will release later this year on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
In Tales of the Shire, players make their customized Hobbit in Bywater, a new up-and-coming village in Hobbiton. Hobbits decorate their own homes (complete with cave-like doors), grow their gardens, fish at ponds, and prepare homemade meals.
Hobbits are a friendly bunch, and building relationships and completing daily activities are critical to ensure Bywater’s success.
It sounds like Animal Crossing: Middle-earth edition. This may be the first Lord of the Rings or Middle-Earth game that doesn’t have orc armies or war of any kind!
And yes, the official description teases “iconic characters and familiar Hobbit families.”
“We’re excited to provide players with the opportunity to fulfill their fantasy of living their own humble Hobbit life in the Shire,” said Kelly Tyson, Head of Product, Wētā Workshop. “Tales of the Shire brings a cozy new dimension to the way fans can experience Middle-earth, with plenty of wholesome, Hobbit-centric gameplay to win-over newcomers to the genre.”
Tales of the Shire has not yet been rated by the ESRB. It has received a Provisional PEGI 7 rating from the European equivalent. It’s due to launch in the second half of 2024 on Steam PC and consoles.
