Tales of the Shire Video Game Chooses Bywater Over Hobbiton for Fresh Take on LOTR Setting

The upcoming video game Tales of the Shire, set to launch in the second half of 2024, is taking a new approach to the familiar Lord of the Rings universe. Rather than setting the game in the iconic village of Hobbiton, the developers have opted for the nearby town of Bywater as the main location.

Tales of the Shire will allow players to create their own Hobbit character and experience life in the idyllic Shire. The game focuses on engaging in relaxing activities such as cooking, fishing, foraging, and gardening. Players will also be able to decorate their own Hobbit home and interact with the residents of Bywater, contributing to the prosperity of the village.

While the game will still feature recognizable elements from The Lord of the Rings, like the Green Dragon Inn, the choice of Bywater offers a fresh perspective. "This decision offers a fresh approach and allows for more player involvement in the prosperity of the village, while still retaining familiar elements from the Lord of the Rings universe," explained the game's developers.

Bywater's proximity to Hobbiton strikes a balance between the beloved setting and providing players with a more active role in shaping the town's growth. Unlike Hobbiton, which is heavily tied to the existing LOTR canon, Bywater allows for greater player agency and involvement.

Why this matters: Tales of the Shire represents a unique blend of the popular life simulation genre and the treasured Lord of the Rings IP. By focusing on the everyday life of Hobbits in a lesser-known location, the game offers a new perspective on the beloved fantasy world that could appeal to both fans of the franchise and newcomers to Middle-earth.

Tales of the Shire is being developed by Wētā Workshop and published by Private Division. The single-player game will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The developers aim to provide a warm and inviting Lord of the Rings experience that fulfills the fantasy of living a humble Hobbit life in the Shire.

Key Takeaways

• Upcoming game "Tales of the Shire" set in Bywater, not Hobbiton
• Focuses on relaxing activities like cooking, fishing, and gardening
• Allows players to create their own Hobbit character and decorate home
• Balances familiar LOTR elements with greater player agency in Bywater
• Developed by Wētā Workshop, published by Private Division, coming 2024