Those hobbits have had too big a feast it seems as Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game will no longer release in March as planned, but will now release on July 29, or so they say.

This is the second delay for the game, as it was first expected to release in October 2024, before it delayed to March 2025 and now July 2025. This is the debut game from Wētā Workshop Game Studio, so there were always going to be pains for them, but multiple delays are not usually a good sign.

The reason for the delay, just more time to ensure quality. Here is the full statement as provided by the team, which was shared on Twitter and we don’t link to that here, so a text version will need to do.

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 cozy experience. The game will now launch on July 29, 2025.

We want this game to feel like a warm hug from Middle-earth, and we are making sure that no matter where 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 silver and get ready for a feast fit for a Hobbit!

Looking forward to welcoming you to Bywater.

—From the folks at Weta Workshop Game Studio

Here is a trailer form the game, so you can see what it is all about.