Well, here we go again. Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game has been delayed – again. Originally set to release in 2024, it was pushed to early 2025, and now it’s been kicked down the road to July 29th. At this rate, we’ll be lucky if we see it before the next age of Middle-earth.
📢 Tales of the Shire needs a bit more simmering… Now coming July 29th, 2025. Thank you for your support and patience.🍽️🥧#TalesOfTheShire #LOTR #cozygaming pic.twitter.com/8afaLnGfFL
— Tales of the Shire (@talesoftheshire) February 20, 2025
The latest delay comes with a vague statement from developer Wētā Workshop about ensuring “every Hobbit, on every platform, can enjoy the same cozy experience.” Which sounds nice, but let’s be real – something behind the scenes isn’t working. This isn’t a visually demanding game; it has a cute, Animal Crossing-style aesthetic that former The Path writer Frankie would love.
So what’s the holdup?
Trouble in the Shire?
One potential reason could be Take-Two Interactive selling Private Division, the game’s original publisher. That kind of shake-up can cause development chaos. But there’s also the possibility that Tales of the Shire just … isn’t coming together the way it should.
People who’ve gotten their hands on early versions have described it as not being very much fun. That’s a problem. A cozy game like this doesn’t need to be action-packed, but it does need to have enough charm and depth to keep players engaged. Right now, it sounds like it’s struggling to deliver that.
The idea of a Hobbit life sim is fantastic – something totally different from the usual Lord of the Rings games. You create your own Hobbit, settle into Bywater, farm, fish, decorate your smial, and get to know your neighbors. It should be the perfect escapist fantasy, a digital second breakfast, if you will.
But if the world feels empty, if the mechanics are too shallow, or if there’s just not enough to do, then all the cozy vibes in the world won’t save it. Based on feedback so far, the game isn’t quite delivering that warm hug from Middle-earth that fans were hoping for.
Is the Delay a Good Thing?
Look, delays aren’t always bad. If Wētā Workshop needs more time to add depth, polish interactions, and make the world feel alive, then it’s better to wait than to get a half-baked release. But given how long this game has been in the oven, it’s hard not to wonder if they’re just trying to salvage what they can.
I want this game to succeed. After the disaster that was Gollum and the lukewarm reception of Return to Moria, we could use a Lord of the Rings game that actually delivers. Let’s just hope this delay means they’re fixing real issues and not just stalling for time. For now, all we can do is wait (again) and hope that Tales of the Shire turns out to be worth it.
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