'A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to,' but it's a different story for hobbits because Tales of the Shire is delayed again

A hobbit holding a tray of leafy greens in her hobbit kitchen

(Image credit: Weta Workshop)

Just over a month before it was due to launch, the cozy hobbit life sim Tales of the Shire has been delayed, and is now set to come out on July 29.

Tales of the Shire, for those not in the know, is essentially "Stardew Valley but with happy little hobbits," except that it's 3D rather than 2D and focuses more on cooking than farming, which seems appropriate. Villagers in the game's little town of Bywater wander around doing their things, while you embark on various quests and just live your life in a quiet corner of the world "painted in pastel earth tones, with a lovely art style that balances impression and detail."

This is actually the second time Tales of the Shire has been delayed—it was originally supposed to be out in the second half of 2024—and it may be well warranted. PC Gamer's Kara Phillips, who knows a thing or two about the life and farming sim genre, was not impressed by a demo of the game she checked out in September 2024, saying it "lacks an identity and is frankly just disappointing."

At the same time, she held out hope that Tales of the Shire might get it right, but said "a lot more work is going to need to be done between now and its launch." It seems that developer Wētā Workshop does not disagree with that assessment.

"We want this game to feel like a warm hug from Middle-earth, and we are making sure that no matter what you play, you'll feel right at home in The Shire," Wētā wrote. "From foot-hair styles to the fluffiest cakes, every detail will be just right.

Dear Fellow Hobbits,A good Hobbit feast takes time, and so does Tales of the Shire! We're taking a little longer to ensure that every Hobbit, on every platform, can enjoy the same cosy experience. The game will now launch on 29th July 2025.We want this game to feel like a warm hug from Middle-earth, and we are making sure that no matter what you play, you'll feel right at home in The Shire. From foot-hair styles to the fluffiest cakes, every detail will be just right.We appreciate your patience and cannot wait for you to experience life in The Shire this summer. In the meantime, arrange the table, polish your sliver and get ready for a feast fit for a Hobbit!Looking forward to welcoming you to Bywater.- From the folks at W&#275;t&#257; Workshop Game Studio — (Image credit: Weta Workshop)

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.