Netflix Blunders by Skipping Tales of the Shire as Its Rings of Power Response

by

The television series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”, produced by Amazon, is one of the costliest shows ever made, with an estimated production budget exceeding $600 million for its first season alone – a figure that surpasses many blockbuster film budgets. Despite such a substantial investment, the series managed to draw in massive viewership, as anticipated, and according to recent data, it was watched by approximately 150 million users worldwide when it premiered in September 2022. However, it’s worth noting that the reception among fans has been predominantly negative.

Amazon’s series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” can only be found on Prime Video, making it exclusive to this streaming platform. Notably, Prime Video is virtually the sole provider of exclusive Lord of the Rings content, with Netflix lacking any original Lord of the Rings shows. While the classic Lord of the Rings trilogy is accessible on Netflix in certain regions, there’s a general scarcity of new Lord of the Rings content available. Regrettably, it appears that an upcoming Lord of the Rings video game, “Tales of the Shire,” will not be added to Netflix’s subscription service.

Tales of the Shire Could Have Been Netflix’s Counter to Rings of Power

Netflix Offers a Sizable Library of Mobile Games to All Subscribers at No Extra Cost

Many folks might not realize this, but besides movies and TV shows, Netflix also provides a substantial collection of video games – exclusively for mobile devices. While the game selection may be modest compared to other platforms, it’s still worth exploring since it doesn’t cost anything extra for Netflix subscribers, and each title is free from ads and microtransactions.

Netflix offers a mix of games: some are unique to their platform, like “Squid Game: Unleashed” and “The Queen’s Gambit Chess,” which were developed in-house by the company. On the other hand, there are games that are direct adaptations from console versions, such as “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” “Sonic Mania,” “Katana Zero,” and “Oxenfree 2.” Since “Tales of the Shire” is a console game too, it would be a suitable addition to this collection of titles.

Tales of the Shire Would Be a Perfect Fit for Netflix, But It’s Not Coming to the Service

For those who may not know, “Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game” is a charming simulation game where players get to live as hobbits and manage their own peaceful villages within the Shire. Unlike other Middle-earth games produced by Monolith Productions, this one features a whimsical, vibrant art style reminiscent of “Animal Crossing” and “Story of Seasons”. The game is being developed by Weta Workshop, famously known for creating the physical effects in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” films.

The game titled “Tales of the Shire” is set to debut on March 25, 2025, and can be played on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC. However, it won’t be accessible through any subscription services or otherwise, which is a bit of a letdown for those hoping to find it on platforms like Netflix. Given its whimsical art style, “Tales of the Shire” could potentially run smoothly on mobile devices. Furthermore, due to its relaxed and non-threatening nature, it seems ideal for playing on-the-go.

It’s a pity that Netflix didn’t reach an agreement with Weta Workshop and Private Division to create mobile versions of Tales of the Shire, exclusively for their platform. Regrettably, such a deal didn’t materialize. While it might not have attracted as many viewers as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video, it would have helped alleviate Netflix’s deficit in Lord of the Rings content.

Read More

2025-02-11 20:49