Tales of the Shireis bringingThe Lord of the Ringsinto a more laid-back genre this time around, as it’s set to be a cozy life sim based around Hobbit life. Far different from the fight against good and evil thatThe Lord of the Ringsis known for,Tales of the Shireis an interesting change of pace for the series.
The game was originally set to launch in the latter half of last year, but developer Weta Workshop pushed it back to March 2025. Unfortunately, that release date was also pushed back, and so far, it seems as thoughTales of the Shirehas locked in a July date. Of course, there’s always the possibility of another last-minute delay, but as of now,Tales of the Shireis bringing cozy Hobbit lifeto the summer lineup. At first, it doesn’t seem likeTales of the Shirehas much competition within its genre, but one major release could prove to be an unexpected competitor:Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Death Stranding 2 Could Potentially Rain On Tales of the Shire’s Cozy Parade
The First Death Stranding Was a Cozy Sleeper Hit
When thefirstDeath Strandinglaunched, it was quite divisive. One of the most surprising aspects of the game was just how much downtime there was between missions. The main premise of the game revolves around protagonist Sam Bridges delivering packages and connecting a post-apocalyptic world. Walking to each delivery point can take a while, and over time, it has attracted fans of more laid-back genres.
Between the simple delivery mechanics and the beautiful landscapes players have to journey through,Death Strandingturned out to be a surprisingly cozy option for a lot of gamers. On the surface,Tales of the Shireseemed safe in its release window, butDeath Stranding 2could spell trouble forthe indie Hobbit adventure.
Tales of the Shirewill release a physical edition for the Switch and the PS5.
Despite Death Standing’s Cozy Reputation, the Sequel is Teasing a Change
Based on trailers leading up to the game’s release,Death Stranding 2seems to be leaning into more action-heavy moments. The firstDeath Strandinghad several combat-focused encounters, but it really looks like Kojima Productions is turning up the dial on this aspect.Death Stranding 2’s new settingand deeper combat could make it different enough from its predecessor that it doesn’t feel nearly as relaxing.
If that’s the case, then it could bemore promising forTales of the Shirein the long run, butDeath Stranding 2is still a juggernaut that’s looming over the smaller title. As the launch ofDeath Stranding 2draws closer, it will be interesting to see how it compares to its predecessor. When Kojima Productions brought forth the first chapter, it stuck out because of its strangeness, and while the second chapter does indeed look just as mind-boggling, the bigger focus on action might be controversial within the game’s fan base.
This time around, Sam’s adventures inDeath Stranding 2bring him to Mexico and Australia.
Tales of the Shire is a New Frontier For Its Developer
Despite the rookie status of Weta Workshop in the gaming industry, the studio isno stranger toThe Lord of the Rings. The special effects division of the studio helped bring the live-action films to life, and that detail makesTales of the Shirecompelling. Only time will tell ifDeath Stranding 2is as cozy as the first game, but if so,Tales of the Shiremay want to be on alert.
