Tales Of The Shire Draws Inspiration from Covid Lockdown Chaos

If the thought of battling Sauron's legions of Orcs, trolls, and other horrific creatures feels too much, how about a peaceful life as a hobbit? Wētā Workshop's new game, Tales of the Shire, aims to offer players a relaxing experience in The Lord of the Rings world. With its rolling hills and carefree hobbits, this Middle-Earth cozy game promises relaxation.

A Pandemic-Inspired Escape

In a world filled with action-packed games, Tales of the Shire stands out by offering a calm retreat. The game's developers were inspired by the stressful events of the COVID lockdown. They wanted to create a place where players could escape from the chaos of real life.

During an interview with GameReactor at the Summer Games Fest, Wētā Workshop's game designer, Catherine Booth, discussed the impact of the pandemic on the game's creation. She explained how the lockdown period influenced their desire to make a cozy and relaxing game set in Middle-Earth. Booth emphasized that the game is set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, a time not often explored in Tolkien's works. This gave the developers a lot of creative freedom.

Staying True to Tolkien's Lore

Creating a game set in the beloved world of The Lord of the Rings requires staying true to the original material. Booth shared how they ensured the game's authenticity. "All of the characters you meet are drawn directly from Tolkien's appendices and other resources," Booth said. They worked closely with a Tolkien scholar, Darren Ormandy, to make sure everything fit perfectly into the lore. Booth explained, "If you can find it in the book, we can get it in the game."

Booth also discussed why they chose to focus on the non-combat side of the game. "The idea came from the COVID lockdown period. We wanted something cozy and relaxing. The Shire is the perfect setting for that," she stated. Booth hopes players will find a place to unwind and relax in this familiar fantasy world.

The highly anticipated game Tales of the Shire is yet to confirm its release date, with expectations pointing towards a launch in the latter half of 2024. It is slated to be available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.