Private Division and developer Wētā Workshop have announced that cozy hobbit life sim Tales of the Shire has once again been delayed, this time to summer.
In a post on X, Wētā announces that the game's new release date will be July 29th. Rather endearingly, the studio says it wants Tales of the Shire "to feel like a warm hug from Middle-earth" for all players, "no matter where you play".
While the platform isn't mentioned by name, that wording could suggest that the delay has been put into place to make sure the Switch version of the game is up to par, given that the console is significantly less powerful than its peers.
Wētā goes on to say that it wants to make sure "every detail" is just right, "from foot-hair styles to the fluffiest cakes". Well, it wouldn't be a hobbit life sim without those things, I suppose.
Unfortunately, there's no sweetener to go along with this announcement, so if you were hoping to try out a Tales of the Shire demo ahead of the game's release, it looks like you're out of luck, at least for now.
If you're unfamiliar with Tales of the Shire, it's a cozy life sim set in the sleepy hobbit village of Bywater, where you'll be able to carve out a life for yourself as a peace-loving hobbit. Don't worry; you won't be tasked with throwing any rings into any volcanoes.
Instead, you'll be fishing, chatting to the locals, and arranging your hobbit-hole so that it looks just right. In general, if you've ever fantasized about living life in the Shire and shirking all of that pesky adventure nonsense, this is the game for you.
Revealed in September 2023, Tales of the Shire was originally set for a 2024 launch, but was subsequently delayed to 2025, eventually receiving the aforementioned March release date (which sadly no longer stands).
You'll be able to check out Tales of the Shire when it launches on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on July 29th. If you want to know whether this laid-back tale of hobbit life is for you, check out our preview here.
