Tales of the Shire Has Steep System Requirements for a Cozy Game

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Tales of the Shire has undergone multiple delays since its announcement back in early 2024, but the title now has a confirmed release date of July 29, a couple of weeks from now. A new trailer was released just a month ago, showcasing the idyllic, day-to-day life of a Hobbit. Gameplay-wise, Tales of the Shire appears to be quite similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with helping the townsfolk of Bywater build up their settlement from a quaint town to a thriving village as the overarching goal. Early impressions indicate the game has no combat to speak of, and focuses exclusively on delivering a casual, relaxed gameplay loop, which involves house decoration, gardening, farming, fishing, foraging, and trading with the locals.PC system requirements for Tales of the Shire on Steam were revealed yesterday, and many were taken aback by how steep they are. The minimum specs demand an Intel Core i5-7600K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 equivalent, whereas the recommended specs require an Intel Core i5-10600 and RTX 3060 Ti equivalents. According to the additional notes on the Steam page, the minimum requirements only promise 1080p at 30 FPS, and even with the recommended hardware, the game is expected to run at 1080p and 60 FPS. Additionally, 16 GB of RAM is a common requirement for both presets.

Tales of the Shire System Requirements

The hardware requirements for Tales of the Shire come as a surprise, especially considering that from the promotional material shown so far, the graphical fidelity and the scope of the title do not appear to justify such a jump. Games with a similar aesthetic and art style, like Palia, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Tiny Glade, and others, do not require anywhere close to what this game is asking for to run comfortably. Even the PC requirements for Hell Is Us and Lost Soul Aside, two upcoming titles that are clearly more graphically demanding than Tales of the Shire, do not call for a 3060 Ti to run at 1080p 60 FPS. Stranger still, the title is only reported requiring 3 GB of available space, a detail that would typically suggest the game is optimized for low-end PCs.

Excitement surrounding Tales of the Shire has picked up in the lead-up to the game’s release, but high system demands might force many PC players who don’t meet the minimum threshold to forgo getting a copy. Crucially, Tales of the Shire has not revealed PC hardware requirements for anything above 1080p 60 FPS, so even those who do meet the prerequisites might still hesitate to purchase the title if it is revealed that going up to 1440p or 4k at 144Hz or above is unrealistic.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game

Released

July 29, 2025

Developer(s)

Wētā Workshop

Publisher(s)

Private Division

Franchise

The Lord of the Rings

Number of Players

1

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

PC Release Date

July 29, 2025

Xbox Series X|S Release Date

July 29, 2025

From the creative studio, Wētā Workshop, live the cosy life of a Hobbit in the wonderfully serene landscape of the Shire. Discover, decorate, and share in this idyllic corner of Middle-earth. Join friendly Hobbits and familiar faces awaiting your arrival in Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game.

Create your own Hobbit as you set forth in Bywater. Though not yet established as an official village in Hobbiton, play a part in helping the quaint town flourish. Greet comfort at the door as you decorate your own Hobbit hole, tend to your garden, fish at the clear ponds, forage wild fruits and herbs, or trade with townsfolks. Prepare homemade meals to share with fellow Hobbits and foster relationships.

With much to see and lots more to eat, enjoy days of splendor in the picturesque forests, lakes, and pastures.

Unwind in the place where what matters most are all the little things. Help bring the community together to achieve village status in Bywater. Experience delight in Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game.