Why Tales of the Shire Now Carries Greater Expectations

Weta Workshop, the renowned physical effects studio famous for its incredible work on Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, is branching into the gaming world with a new project for home consoles: Tales of the Shire. Developed under the publishing wing of Private Division, a one-time Take Two subsidiary, this game is set in the iconic realm of The Lord of the Rings. However, it stands apart from the typical action-packed fare associated with the series. Tales of the Shire invites players into a soothing life simulation, offering a serene escape where you can live out your hobbit dreams in the cozy corners of the Shire. Unlike its predecessors, this game eschews combat and intense narratives, aligning itself more with games like Animal Crossing or Fantasy Life than traditional adventures.

Initially pegged for a 2024 release, Tales of the Shire was first delayed to March 25, 2025, and has faced another postponement, now aiming for a July 29, 2025 launch. This marks Weta Workshop’s first foray into console gaming, so expectations are naturally high, especially given that hopes for a follow-up to one of the most beloved Lord of the Rings games now seem dim. Weta Workshop will need to deliver something truly special.

Warner Bros. Interactive delivered a blow to the gaming world with the unexpected closure of Monolith Productions, the creative force behind the cherished Middle-earth games. Along with Monolith, WB Games San Diego and Player First Games were also shuttered. Monolith’s sudden end after 30 years is a significant loss for the industry, given its rich history of acclaimed titles like The Operative: No One Lives Forever, Condemned: Criminal Origins, F.E.A.R., and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Before its closure, Monolith was allegedly working on a Wonder Woman game, which has since been canceled.

In the landscape of Lord of the Rings video games, Monolith was a standout AAA developer, particularly in the last decade. Most recent games inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe have been relatively modest, either in budget or developed as mobile experiences. Titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, stood as massive AAA action games. With Shadow of War being Monolith’s final production, it appears it will be the last major single-player Lord of the Rings endeavor for some time.

The current scene isn’t overly bright for Lord of the Rings games. Recent releases like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria received lukewarm to negative reviews. Upcoming titles other than Weta’s Tales of the Shire and an untitled MMO from Amazon Games don’t offer much to anticipate. Given these circumstances, it’s imperative for Weta Workshop to hit it out of the park with Tales of the Shire. With little likelihood of a third installment in the Middle-earth series and few studios currently embracing the Lord of the Rings IP, Tales of the Shire might stand alone as the primary single-player offering for fans in the foreseeable future. The extra time afforded by the delay could be pivotal, allowing Weta to refine the game to perfection and ensure it doesn’t follow in the disappointing footsteps of Gollum.