Tales of the Shireis an upcoming cozy game that allows players to enter J. R. R. Tolkien’s magical world as their very own hobbit character residing in the village of Bywater. The game will release in March, with no post-launch plans currently revealed. However, ifTales of the Shiredoes indeed feature post-launch content, it should follow the mold of another cozy game:Disney Dreamlight Valley,which centers and themes its updates around each set of newly added characters.
Disney Dreamlight Valley’s Updates Make Characters The Focus
Typically, each ofDisney Dreamlight Valley’sregular updates adds between one and three characters to the game. Sometimes the characters join the Valley through magical means; other times they come from a Realm inspired by their film. Each character brings with them a chain of quests and a series of thematically related clothing, furniture, and decoration rewards. Some characters, such as Princess Tiana andSulley and Mike fromMonsters, Inc.,also debut alongside a Star Path event that features an even larger number of themed rewards.
While the game does have an overarching plot, the characters are the focus of each update. Players who are eagerly looking forward to a certain Disney orPixar characterget to truly celebrate their arrival. It’s not just Belle or Mulan or Stitch moving to the Valley - it’s players getting to dress like them, decorate their home with reminders of them, and learn more about them and the world they came from.
Tales of the Shire Could Follow Disney Dreamlight Valley’s Lead
Small, regular, character-focused updates would be a solid post-launch strategy forTales of the Shire.New hobbits to meet and befriend could be introduced in twos and threes, each one accompanied by themed clothing, furniture, decorative items, and perhaps even additional recipes for meals to cook or plants for players to grow in their garden. These characters would, of course, also bring their own “Tales” - quests for players to complete to get to know them better and help them get settled intoBywater.
This strategy would also allowTales of the Shireto introduce highly anticipated pre-existing characters from the world ofThe Lord of the Rings.While Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin from the original trilogy are likely not born yet - or at best very young children - due toTales of the Shiretaking place afterThe Hobbitbut beforeThe Lord of the Rings,there are plenty of characters who fans would like to see.Bilbo Bagginsis probably the most prominent, but other possible inclusions are Hamfast “Old Gaffer” Gamgee, Otho and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, and ancestors of existing prominent hobbit families such as the Tooks, Brandybucks, or Cottons.
Limited-Time Events Could Also Feature
Another element ofDisney Dreamlight Valley’spost-launch strategy is limited-time events, such as the annual Gift of Giving festival or the more recent Disney Parks Fest, introduced in 2024. Similar limited-time events inTales of the Shirecould be the perfect opportunity to allow characters from other races and settlements to visit Bywater. Gandalf, who often travels to the Shire, could introduce the player to various festivals and parties much like another wizard,Merlin, does inDisney Dreamlight Valley. Alternately, some of Bilbo’s dwarf friends who he journeyed with duringThe Hobbitcould come to visit, or elves from Rivendell or Lothlorien or humans from the relatively nearby town of Bree.
As of now, nothing has been confirmed regardingTales of the Shire’spotential post-launch strategy. However, followingDisney Dreamlight Valley’s model of updatescentered around characters and mixing permanent additions with limited-time events would be an ideal strategy that could give this cozy hobbit adventure quite a long lifespan.
