Breakdown
- The new game is developed by the VFX studio Weta Workshop, who worked on the Peter Jackson films.
- It is a life simulator similar to The Sims but with a uniquely Halfling flavor.
- Activities that you can do include fishing, agriculture, baking, and attending parties.
- You can also decorate your homes.
It’s been seven years since Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, the last Lord of the Rings game based on the Peter Jackson films. It’s been a while, but Weta Studio has officially announced Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth fans have waited a while for a new game after Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (we don't speak of Gollum). Today, they have reason to celebrate, as a new game is coming from Weta Workshop, the studio responsible for the astounding special effects in the Peter Jackson film trilogy.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game will be a life simulator, a genre similar to The Sims, but set in the world of the Hobbits in the Shire. Players will be able to experience the daily life of a Hobbit, from tending to their gardens to hosting grand feasts. Take a look at the official announcement trailer below.
The trailer begins with a book opening to reveal previews of what the game brings to the player. We see a vista of scenes showing the Hobbits in their natural habitat doing what they are most comfortable with - agriculture, fishing, cooking, and socialising with their fellow Halflings.
Activities in the game are split into two categories - Forage Friendships and Decorate Your Home. The former apparently refers to socialising with other Hobbits, which will certainly bring in-game incentives that the studio is yet to reveal.
On the other hand, the second category refers to a common staple of open-world RPGs and life simulators - home development. You start with a clean slate that you work to transform into one of the best-looking homes in The Shire.
The preview closes with a graphic of the letter Z, which bears the words “Welcome home, Hobbit.” With seven years between this announcement and the last film-based video game, this certainly feels like a fitting welcome back to the world of Middle-Earth.
According to the trailer’s description, Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game will have a PEGI-7 rating and will be released later this year. The game will be available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam.