Tales of the Shire: Everything we know about Lord of the Rings life sim
Private DivisionTales of the Shire is the cozy new entry in the Lord of the Rings universe, drawing heavily from games like Disney Dreamlight Valley and Animal Crossing to let you live like a Hobbit. Here’s everything we know about it, from the platforms it’ll be available on to all the release info so far.
The popularity of games like Stardew Valley and Disney Dreamlight Valley has encouraged many players to swap the competitive world of online games for laidback life sims. Now, Tales of the Shire is bringing the genre to Middle Earth, finally giving the Lord of the Rings fans the chance to live out their Hobbit fantasy.
Unsurprisingly, it’s already become one of the most anticipated games of 2024, so here’s everything you need to know about Tales of the Shire.
Is there a Tales of the Shire release window?
Tales of the Shire arrives Holiday 2024, but developers Private Division are yet to confirm an exact release date. This was announced during the Nintendo Direct on June 18, as part of a new short trailer giving fans a closer look at what they’ll be getting up to.
Platforms
Tales of the Shire will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch when it arrives later in the year. There is currently no word on a release for last-gen consoles, as it appears the devs are concentrating on the current generation of hardware.
However, if the game takes off and there is a high enough demand, it’s too early to rule out a PS4 and Xbox One version later down the line.
Tales of the Shire setting
As you’d expect Tales of the Shire takes place in the titular home of the Hobbits, in a village called Bywater just a mile away from Bag End in Hobbiton. Fans of the books will know this location as the backdrop for a major battle that ends the Scouring of the Shire.
Private DivisionGameplay
Tales of the Shire draws plenty of inspiration from games like the Disney Dreamlight Valley and Stardew Valley, as players are let loose with the goal of helping Bywater hit village status. The first thing to do is decorate your own Hobbit Hole, with new furniture and other decor.
Bywater is also home to several relaxing activities, such as fishing, gardening, and foraging for rare resources. There is also a cooking system, letting you develop relationships with the other residents by preparing them meals.
The devs have also teased that “iconic characters and familiar Hobbit families” will appear, so you could easily end up living alongside the Baggins, Gamgees, or Tooks.
Trailers
There have been two Tales of the Shire trailers so far. The first was the announcement trailer, giving fans a glimpse at the customization on offer and plenty of the activities, while the second confirmed the release window. Check them out below:
Announcement trailer
Nintendo Direct trailer
To make the wait for Tales of the Shire a little easier, there are plenty other major releases still to come in 2024, including Star Wars Outlaws, Black Myth: Wukong, and the Silent Hill 2 remake.