Tales of the Shire: Release date, 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.

Whether it’s stellar films, the additive books, or the questionable Gollum 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 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.

Tales of the Shire release date

Tales of the Shire will be released on March 25, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.

It had previously been slated for a 2024 release but a delay was announced on September 12, 2024, to ensure the experience is “everything you’re hoping for.”

Trailers

A short trailer was released on September 22, 2024, revealing the game’s release date with some commentary from the creative team, and a glimpse at gameplay.

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.

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.

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.

Hobbit Day Showcase

The Hobbit Day showcase is an exclusive inside look at Tales of the Shire that was livestreamed on September 22, 2024.

As well as confirming the release date, the showcase also gives fans insight from various members of the creative team, and some fresh looks at gameplay which includes cooking recipes, building and maintaining relationships in the community, and decorating and styling your very own Hobbit hole.

You can check out the full showcase below:

Gameplay

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, and Tales of the Shire is following suit based on the gameplay we’ve seen so far.

Activities such as foraging for food, gardening, fishing, and cooking a hearty second breakfast are all a big part of the gameplay loop. Like any cozy game worth its salt, Tales of the Shire also lets you decorate your very own Hobbit hole to create your ideal home.

Players can head to various locations to catch fish, buy items from stalls, and of course meet the various villagers filled with their own quests, personalities, and favorite dishes.

Cooking is the primary draw with Tales of the Shire and hones much of the gameplay from Cooking Mama. Players can chop, cook, and mix their own delicious meals to eat themselves or serve up to various villagers to increase standing.

Developers

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, Indiana Jones & the Great Circle, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, and Silent Hill 2.