Weta Workshop, the imaginative masterminds behind the captivating visuals of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, is stepping into new territory with their inaugural console game, Tales of the Shire. This exciting venture is brought to life in collaboration with Private Division, previously a part of Take Two. Set in the enchanting world of The Lord of the Rings, Tales of the Shire veers away from the epic battles and high stakes narrative typical of its predecessors. Instead, it invites players into a tranquil life simulation, capturing the essence of hobbit life in the Shire. This game is more a cozy escapade akin to Animal Crossing or Fantasy Life rather than an action-packed adventure.
The game is set to be available on platforms including PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC. Although initially slated for a 2024 release, Tales of the Shire has faced a couple of delays. Weta Workshop and Private Division first set their sights on March 25, 2025, but recently decided to move the date further to July 29, 2025. With this being Weta Workshop’s first foray into console gaming, they face significant expectations, especially in light of a less likely continuation of one of the best-loved Lord of the Rings games.
The gaming landscape for The Lord of the Rings universe has been somewhat bleak of late. The closure of Monolith Productions by Warner Bros. Interactive sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Monolith was celebrated for its Middle-earth series, crafting masterpieces like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Originally established over 30 years ago, Monolith brought us titles like The Operative: No One Lives Forever and F.E.A.R., cementing its legacy in gaming. Right before its closure, Monolith was working on a Wonder Woman project, which sadly met a premature end.
In recent years, Monolith Productions was one of the very few AAA developers diving into the Lord of the Rings mythos. While most games in the Tolkien franchise have skewed towards smaller budgets or mobile platforms, Monolith delivered grand, blockbuster experiences with titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Unfortunately, it looks like Shadow of War might stand as the last of its kind for quite some time.
The lack of upcoming Lord of the Rings games heightens the anticipation for Tales of the Shire. The last couple of console attempts—The Lord of the Rings: Gollum and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria—haven’t dazzled fans or critics. On the horizon, there isn’t much to anticipate except for Tales of the Shire and an untitled MMO from Amazon Games. Weta Workshop now carries the torch for fans longing for a significant Lord of the Rings experience. With the delay, there’s hope that Weta can fine-tune Tales of the Shire, avoiding the pitfalls that troubled releases like Gollum, and ensure a successful launch.
In this context, a hit from Weta Workshop would not only fill a void but reaffirm the magic of Tolkien’s universe in the gaming world.
