Private Division and Wētā Workshop have unveiled the first gameplay trailer for Tales of the Shire, as well as confirming that the game will officially arrive on PC and consoles later this year.
The game was announced in September last year, but today's new trailer sheds light on what kind of game we can expect, and it's exactly the sort of cozy hobbit farming sim (i.e. a farming sim where you play as a hobbit) you'd want from a project like this.
In the trailer, we see a very idyllic depiction of the Shire, complete with lots of greenery, rustic waterwheels, and all of the other accouterments you'd expect from the home of the hobbits.
We see hobbits fishing, foraging for supplies, and wandering around a bustling market area, as well as chopping ingredients in kitchens in order to create meals.
Tales of the Shire will let you do all of these things, of course, and you'll be able to create your own hobbit as you explore the town of Bywater, which, according to the game's official blurb, is "not yet established as an official village in Hobbiton".
You'll be able to meet the locals and forge relationships with them, and if you don't feel like doing much, you can do what hobbits do best: while away the hours in your village doing absolutely nothing.
Recent Lord of the Rings games, including the ill-fated Gollum and the...erm, equally ill-fated Return to Moria, have foregrounded conflict and combat, so the chance to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Shire is a welcome one indeed.
You'll be able to check out Tales of the Shire when it launches later this year for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more info on this one.
