1 week Ago By Leah J. Williams
Cosy game adaptation was recently , with developer Wētā Workshop promising more news on official Hobbit Day. Now, the day has arrived, and we’ve learned much more about the game – including that it will now launch on . As previously announced, while the game was set to launch by the end of 2024, it needs more development time to meet player expectations.
“All of us here at Wētā Workshop are excited to have you join us in the Shire, a peaceful corner of J.R.R Tolkien’s world.
When a new Hobbit steps into Bywater for the very first time, we want that moment to be everything you’re hoping for,” the team said. “To ensure we deliver that vision, will now be launching early 2025. Thank you for your patience and continued support.
” As well as revealing the game’s new release date, the Hobbit Day celebrations included focussed on life in the shire, and the work going into developing this cosy experience. It gives a good look at Hobbit hole customisation, decoration, cooking, and exploration, all of which will help players personalise their experience. During Hobbit Day celebrations, a range of media were also given hands-on previews of , with a range of impressions giving a more insightful glimpse about what’s to come.
Early impressions Over on , previewer Susana Polo was delighted by the vibes of the game, its Hobbit customisation options, and its charming scenery. She was particularly enamoured by its devotion to Hobbit lore, and its intricate and “charming” cooking system. Elsewhere, previewers for and were slightly less enamoured, expressing concerns for a relatively bare world, and one that features repetitive quests.
“On paper, it promises a cosy life in Middle-earth, filled with farming, decorating, cooking, and fishing. But the demo exhibits a desperate attempt to make a cosy game while the subgenre is so popular rather than focusing on building a game that welcomes new while letting long-time ones live out the dream of living as a hobbit,” previewer Kara Phillips wrote for . “In theory, , a life sim set in the Shire’s village of Bywater, should be right up my street,” previewer Andrew Brown wrote for .
“But after playing it for a couple of hours, I’m left lukewarm.” There are still several months before launches, and plenty of time left to address this early criticism. As each preview states, there is plenty of potential in a cosy game, and there are high hopes that will eventually deliver the experience keen players wants.
Stay tuned for more on as we head closer to the game’s launch..
