Private Division and Wētā Workshop Announce Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game

[TheLostSwede]

Private Division, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and Wētā Workshop, known for their work on the world of Middle-earth for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, today revealed Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, a cosy Hobbit life sim set in the Middle-earth universe of J.R.R. Tolkien. Developed by Wētā Workshop Game Studio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wētā Workshop, Tales of the Shire will launch in the second half of 2024 on the Nintendo Switch system, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

In Tales of the Shire, experience the storybook return to Middle-earth's most inviting region by living life as a Hobbit in the idyllic town of Bywater. Unwind in the breathtaking pastures, visit the townsfolks' local shops, or even enjoy second breakfast. Help bring the community together and achieve official village status by throwing the greatest Bywater Festival the Shire has ever seen!




"We're excited to provide players with the opportunity to fulfil their fantasy of living their own humble Hobbit life in the Shire," said Kelly Tyson, Head of Product at Wētā Workshop. "Tales of the Shire brings a cosy new dimension to the way fans can experience Middle-earth, with plenty of wholesome, Hobbit-centric gameplay to win-over newcomers to the genre."

Create and personalise a Hobbit with an array of customisations to experience the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved Middle-earth universe your own way. Settle in and decorate a cosy Hobbit home, choosing from an array of furniture and home décor to create your unique, humble abode. Then head outdoors to Bywater for plenty of cooking, fishing, foraging, gardening, and more relaxing activities in the Shire. Toss your lure to catch trout from the glistening waters of Bywater Pool, gather wild mushrooms, and then use the collected ingredients to bake a succulent pie to serve for luncheon. With a full belly, stroll back outside to explore the Shire and build relationships with the Bywater locals by helping them to build a garden, sharing one of the many daily Hobbit meals, and more.

"The team at Wētā Workshop is creating a brilliant representation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved works that gives players the agency to create their own Hobbit experience in Middle-earth," said Michael Worosz, Chief Strategy Officer, Take-Two Interactive, and Head of Private Division. "Players have been clamoring for a warm and inviting The Lord of the Rings game for years now, and it's exactly what we're delivering with Tales of the Shire."

Middle-earth Enterprises have licensed the literary works of The Lord of the Rings series, providing Wētā Workshop Game Studio with the broadest creative license to interpret the underlying lore of the books.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is coming later this year to the Nintendo Switch system, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Tales of the Shire is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and visit www.talesoftheshire.com.

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[Onasi]

A hobbit life sim game. Okay, sure. That’s a fruitful use of the greatest fantasy setting there is, why not.
What absolutely kills me is that there are still no attempts by anyone to make a proper Middle-Earth RPG. Something to actually use the setting properly, to sink your teeth in. The closest thing is The Third Age, but less said about that abomination the better. The White Council was supposed to be one, but never saw light of day. It’s infuriating, the setting has been used for pretty much everything and anything in terms of game genres, even a MOBA existed at one point, and yet the most interesting and obvious avenue remains unexplored.

 

[Space Lynx]

I usually like unique graphics, but these aren't really doing it for me, they aren't bad though, I'd still play it. Gives me PS2 vibes for some reason.

 

[dgianstefani]

A hobbit life sim game. Okay, sure. That’s a fruitful use of the greatest fantasy setting there is, why not.
What absolutely kills me is that there are still no attempts by anyone to make a proper Middle-Earth RPG. Something to actually use the setting properly, to sink your teeth in. The closest thing is The Third Age, but less said about that abomination the better. The White Council was supposed to be one, but never saw light of day. It’s infuriating, the setting has been used for pretty much everything and anything in terms of game genres, even a MOBA existed at one point, and yet the most interesting and obvious avenue remains unexplored.

Question is, in the current climate of terrible adaptations would you really want them to make one? I know after the ROP Amazon crap if I were Tolkien's estate I wouldn't want to sell rights to the universe to anyone.

I've been reading some of Tolkien's other work recently. Mythopoeia is particularly nice as an epic poem and still very relevant.

 

[JIWIL]

Over the years I've put more time into Moria --> Angband -->*Band variants than any other game (or even franchise). It is a shame that no one's ever taken a stab at a properly licensed RPG... pretty sure we all know which studio would be first choice for this /dreams.

 

[Onasi]

Question is, in the current climate of terrible adaptations would you really want them to make one? I know after the ROP Amazon crap if I were Tolkien's estate I wouldn't want to sell rights to the universe to anyone.

Sure, why not. I like to pretend to be outraged at the absolute travesties of adaptations that Middle-Earth gets, but at this point it becomes tiresome and I am willing to toss a coin on this.

Sure, RoP was f**king garbage of the highest order, but I am yet to meet a sensible person who actually expected it NOT to be. So no big loss. And games had some impressive lore rapes long before RoP - Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, while somewhat fun games, are absolute nonsense in terms of adherence to the canon. Second game especially is a crack fueled fanfic. And I mentioned The Third Era - that game is, what, 2004 or thereabouts and already had a party of some randos fight the Eye of Sauron.

I am at this point extremely inoculated against terrible Tolkien adaptations and don’t even react anymore and, as such, am willing to take a chance is what I am saying. Besides, the Estate would do anything for a payday now that Christopher is gone, so I doubt they have any moral qualms.

 

[AsRock]

So sad..... Gotta watch that woke meter. And T2 don't have a good record either.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Not sure i could handle having hobbit feet

 

[R-T-B]

So sad..... Gotta watch that woke meter. And T2 don't have a good record either.

My man hobbits are literally the fantasy version of IRL "little people" and you are still going on about it being "woke?"

 

[Space Lynx]

Not sure i could handle having hobbit feet

lol

i think this game looks alright honestly, I will def give it a try on a sale someday. this is a banger year for games. so many games I want coming out this year, and dlc too.

Age of Mythology Retold is at the top of my list.

 

[Bwaze]

"But they were, all of them, deceived, for another Breakfast was made!"

 

[Steve Ballmer]

"But they were, all of them, deceived, for another Breakfast was made!"

 

[Onasi]

My man hobbits are literally the fantasy version of IRL "little people" and you are still going on about it being "woke?"

You… could look at hobbits this way, I guess, even if that was definitely not what Tolkien was going for. They are far more a fantasy version of the “good ol’ England” pre-industrialization that Tolkien, admittedly, romanticized and the fact that they are short is really incidental, both from the point of “you don’t need to be imposing for great deeds” and, and this is my personal speculation, due to said romanticized view of Middle England being based in Tolkiens childhood memories when he was small… just like a hobbit.

 

[Easo]

Sure, why not. I like to pretend to be outraged at the absolute travesties of adaptations that Middle-Earth gets, but at this point it becomes tiresome and I am willing to toss a coin on this.

Sure, RoP was f**king garbage of the highest order, but I am yet to meet a sensible person who actually expected it NOT to be. So no big loss. And games had some impressive lore rapes long before RoP - Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, while somewhat fun games, are absolute nonsense in terms of adherence to the canon. Second game especially is a crack fueled fanfic. And I mentioned The Third Era - that game is, what, 2004 or thereabouts and already had a party of some randos fight the Eye of Sauron.

I am at this point extremely inoculated against terrible Tolkien adaptations and don’t even react anymore and, as such, am willing to take a chance is what I am saying. Besides, the Estate would do anything for a payday now that Christopher is gone, so I doubt they have any moral qualms.

Sexy Shelob was the best thing ever, no one will convince me otherwise.
/s, maybe

 

[R-T-B]

You… could look at hobbits this way, I guess, even if that was definitely not what Tolkien was going for. They are far more a fantasy version of the “good ol’ England” pre-industrialization that Tolkien, admittedly, romanticized and the fact that they are short is really incidental, both from the point of “you don’t need to be imposing for great deeds” and, and this is my personal speculation, due to said romanticized view of Middle England being based in Tolkiens childhood memories when he was small… just like a hobbit.

Oh, believe me I know. That was more tongue in cheek humor about the "woke" comments.

 

[Prima.Vera]

too childish

 

[Easy Rhino]

I'm still waiting for an updated version of "Lord of the Rings - Battle for Middle Earth"

 

[Random_User]

Looks not bad. But the graphics could be prettier, cleaner. It is akin to Darksiders, but somewhat lacks it's "charm". Still much better, that that gorefest Shadow of War.
There's not much of peaceful games, LotR incuded, with that cosiness and calmness of that old and buggy game, called LotRO. Despite all it's all flaws, it's still a nice place to runaround. Oh, and these landscapes of Shire and Rivendel in LotR: BFME II, combining with it's astonishing surround sound... Such a nice place. EA, did such great game...

I'm still waiting for an updated version of "Lord of the Rings - Battle for Middle Earth"

One can only hope. And hope, is the first step, on the road to disappointment. There were, what seemed to be great endeavors, called The Battle for Middle-Earth: Reforged. But now it looks more like a scam. I don't want to defamate anyone, but despite the idea being great, the project seems to be utterly dead. Sadly. There are some great mods, though. But that looks like is all what can be expected from the series. As there's even less hope remains, in the remasters by any of big publishing companies, like EA, Embracer, or any other. That would be some utter garbage akin to ROP TV series.