Summary
Despite an unfortunate delay, Weta Workshop and Private Division’s cozyLord of the Ringsgame,Tales of the Shire, is on the way, with a planned released date of July 22, 2025. As the first game of its kind in the ever-growing library ofLord of the Ringsgames,Tales of the Shirewill allow players to live out their lives as hobbits in the village of Bywater, right in the heart of the Shire. In light ofTales of the Shire’s setting and gameplay, there remains an argument in support of a photo mode that would allow players to capture their time in the Shire and preserve their most memorable moments beyond the game itself.
In-game photo modes have increased in popularity over the last decade, especially as games have made better use of modern technology to create stunning visuals. Now,Tales of the Shireshould arguably be one of the next games in line to receive the popular feature, and there are several reasons why.
Why Tales of the Shire Could Use a Photo Mode
A Photo Mode Would Be the Ideal Way to Let Players Show Off Their Houses
One of the keyfeatures ofTales of the Shireis the opportunity it gives players to decorate their very own hobbit hole. While this feature will undoubtedly appeal to cozy enthusiasts, decorating a house in a world as famous asThe Lord of the Rings' Shire would mean much less without the ability to share it with others — this is where a photo mode could come in handy.
Players are likely to invest plenty of timecustomizing their hobbit holes inTales of the Shireto reflect their personality and taste, and a photo mode would allow them to capture and display their creativity, highlighting intricate details, cozy furniture arrangements, and charming decorations. They could then share these creations on social media and forums, not just for the purpose of opening the door for some positive affirmation, but also perhaps even inspiring other players to decorate their own hobbit holes in a similar manner or build upon those ideas for something even more elaborate.
A Photo Mode Would Let Players Capture the Scenery of the Shire
At first glance,Tales of the Shiremay not be the most visually impressive game out there, with somewhat blocky character models and scenery that looks more akin to an oil painting than a video game. However, that doesn’t diminish the fact thatTales of the Shirewill be taking players to one of the mostmemorableLord of the Ringslocations, the Shire, which is known for its picturesque landscapes, rolling green hills, and colorful gardens. The addition of a photo mode inTales of the Shirewould allow players the opportunity to pause and appreciate these details, capturing the idyllic nature of Tolkien’s world first brought to life through words alone.
Players are likely to invest plenty of time customizing their hobbit holes to reflect their personality and taste, and a photo mode would allow them to capture and display their creativity, highlighting intricate details, cozy furniture arrangements, and charming decorations.
AsTales of the Shirewill presumably have plenty of partiesand engagement with the hobbits of the Shire, a photo mode for the game would also allow players to preserve memorable in-game moments and even share them with friends and the rest of the game’s community. Whether it’s catching Gandalf setting off fireworks (assuming the iconic wizard will be featured in the game), hobbits dancing at a party, or a serene sunset over Bag End, a photo mode inTales of the Shirewould be the perfect tool to capture these moments and reflect on them, even after the game is turned off.
There’s little reason agame likeTales of the Shire, given its setting and cozy gameplay features, shouldn’t have a photo mode integrated into it. It hasn’t been confirmed yet whether Weta Workshop will include the increasingly popular feature in its upcomingLord of the Ringsgame, but if it doesn’t have current plans to implement a photo mode, hopefully there will be an update down the road that adds one to the game.
