Weta Workshop, famed for its physical effects work on Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, is venturing into console gaming for the first time with a title called “Tales of the Shire.” This venture, published by former Take Two subsidiary Private Division, as expected, is rooted in the “The Lord of the Rings” franchise. Unlike other games in this long-running series, “Tales of the Shire” offers a relaxing life simulation experience, enabling players to indulge their hobbit fantasies in the Shire. It eschews combat and dramatic narratives in favor of gameplay reminiscent of “Animal Crossing” or “Fantasy Life,” making it more akin to these games than your typical action-adventure title.
The game titled “Tales of the Shire” was initially planned for release in 2024, but has since been postponed twice. Originally scheduled for March 25, 2025, the launch date has now been moved back an extra four months to July 29, 2025. Developed by Weta Workshop and Private Division, this is their first console game ever, which already carries a significant expectation due to its nature. However, the likelihood of a sequel to one of the top Lord of the Rings games being released adds even more pressure on “Tales of the Shire“, making it a highly anticipated title. The game is confirmed for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC.
Since a Middle-Earth Sequel is Unlikely, The Need for a Good Lord of the Rings Game is Higher than Ever
Monolith Productions, The Middle-Earth Devs, Were Recently Shuttered by Warner Bros.
On Tuesday, it was unexpectedly revealed that Monolith Productions, the team behind the cherished Middle-earth game series, along with WB Games San Diego and Player First Games, would be closed down by Warner Bros. Interactive. This development took many by surprise due to Monolith’s longstanding reputation as a prominent video game developer. With over 30 years in the industry, Monolith made its mark with numerous critically-acclaimed games like The Operative: No One Lives Forever, Condemned: Criminal Origins, F.E.A.R., and most notably, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.
Before shutting down, Monolith Productions had been developing a Wonder Woman video game, though regrettably, this project has since been scrapped.
Among the few major video game developers working on The Lord of the Rings franchise in recent years, Monolith Productions stood out. Recently, most titles derived from J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous series have either been more budget-restricted or designed for mobile platforms. However, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its 2017 sequel, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, were both critically acclaimed AAA action games. Regrettably, Shadow of War marked the final game produced by Monolith Productions, and it seems that a standalone single-player AAA Lord of the Rings game may be scarce for some time.
There Aren’t Many Lord of the Rings Games to Look Forward to, So Tales of the Shire Needs to Hit a Home Run
The “Lord of the Rings” series has been facing challenges in the gaming world lately. The latest console games derived from the franchise, specifically “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” and “The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria“, received mediocre reviews at best or were heavily criticized at worst. Regarding upcoming “Lord of the Rings” games, there isn’t much to anticipate other than the mentioned “Tales of the Shire” and an unnamed MMO being developed by Amazon Games.
In view of the current struggles with Lord of the Rings video games, it’s crucial for Weta Workshop to deliver a standout performance with Tales of the Shire. With Warner Bros. unlikely to produce a third installment in Monolith Productions’ Middle-earth series and few major studios working on the Lord of the Rings IP, Tales of the Shire might be one of the only single-player Lord of the Rings games to see daylight in the near future. Fingers crossed that the delay for Tales of the Shire provides Weta Workshop the necessary time to address any issues, ensuring a trouble-free launch and avoiding a situation similar to Gollum.
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2025-02-27 21:09