Private Division and Weta Workshop Announce Tales of the Shire for Console and PC

Publisher Private Division and developer Weta Workshop made an exciting announcement:Tales of the Shire: The Lord of the Rings Game,’ is scheduled to be released for consoles and PC in 2024. Although the specific console hasn’t been revealed yet, this news marks the realization of a long-held dream for Lord of the Rings fans.

The collaboration between the two companies was first revealed in August 2022, hinting at work on a new game within the world of JRR Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. Now, “Tales of the Shire” promises to be a unique addition to this beloved world.

Described as ‘a cozy Lord of the Rings game set in the world of Middle-earth’, the project aims to fulfill the wishes of fans who have been craving a game that lets them experience the simple, comfortable life of the Hobbit.

Details about Tales of the Shire

Details about the game are still scarce, but the teaser suggests a focus on coziness and Hobbit-related adventures. To get a better sense of what to expect going forward, we can take a look back at the Weta Workshop and Private Division partnership that was established a year ago. At the time, they announced their intention to develop a game set in the world of Middle-earth.

In particular, they made it clear that by licensing the series’ literary works, they were giving Weta Workshop extensive creative freedom to interpret the books’ lore. Such assurance should alleviate concerns about compliance with established knowledge.

Moreover, he explained that this collaboration is “very different from what fans have done before.” This indicates that “Tales of the Shire” will likely deliver a fresh and unique gaming experience within The Hobbit and the realm of Middle-earth, and will be an eagerly anticipated addition to the Lord of the Rings gaming universe.

For those of you unfamiliar with Weta Workshop, it’s important to know that this isn’t their first appearance in the entertainment industry. Weta Workshop is a well-known special effects company based in New Zealand. Among his impressive portfolio, he notably contributed to the creation of props and set pieces for Peter Jackson’s iconic Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film series.

Over the years, he has continued to work on numerous notable projects, including recent works such as Avatar: The Way of the Water, M3gan, and the intriguingly titled Cocaine Bear. You may not know, but Weta Workshop entered the video game space in 2014 and established a dedicated division.

Until now, their focus has mainly been on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) projects. But the exciting news is that ‘Tales of the Shire’ is a departure from their previous adventures. This upcoming game is set to be a more traditional gaming experience and will be available on both console and PC platforms when it launches in 2024.

Despite our collective excitement, this involves a bit of a waiting game. Further details about ‘Tales of the Shire’ will not be revealed until next year. So fans and Hobbit enthusiasts alike will have to exercise a little more patience before fully immersing themselves in the Hobbit dream world brought to life by Wētā Workshop. [no_toc]