Tales of the Shire’s new trailer offers a cosy look at Middle-earth

Wētā Workshop is celebrating Tolkien Reading Day with a fresh behind-the-scenes look at Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game. The new video explores how the upcoming game takes inspiration from Tolkien’s original works, focusing on themes like nature, community, and the famously relaxed Hobbit lifestyle.

Rather than epic battles and dark lords, Tales of the Shire invites players to enjoy a slower, more comforting journey through Middle-earth. The developers turned to Tolkien’s books as the foundation, bringing familiar names, places, and traditions into a game that feels true to its source. Think Brandybucks and Tooks, Bywater Pond, The Green Dragon Inn, and plenty more nods for keen-eyed fans to spot.

“It was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort,” reads the quote from The Hobbit that guided the tone of the game. That ethos is at the heart of Tales of the Shire.

A new gameplay video also dropped today on the PlayStation Blog, giving fans a closer look at life in the Shire: building relationships, cooking up meals, decorating cosy homes, and joining in with your Hobbit neighbours. Alongside the video, PlayStation published a developer interview with Creative Director Stephen Lambert, diving into the inspirations behind the game and how it captures the spirit of Tolkien’s world.

Developed by Wētā Workshop, Tales of the Shire launches July 29 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. If you’re ready to trade swords for second breakfast, this one might be for you.