Suffice it to say, they’re fairly manageable, at least on the lower end. At the very minimum, you need an Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 16 GB RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 (4 GB), an AMD Radeon R9 270X (4 GB) or an Intel Arc A580 (8 GB) for 1080p/30 FPS at Very Low settings.

The recommended requirements include a Core i5-10600 or Ryzen 5 8400F, 16 GB RAM, and a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (8 GB) or Radeon RX 6750 XT (12 GB) for 1080p/60 FPS at High settings. Of course, the requirements for 1440p and 4K resolution alongside the highest settings have yet to be revealed. But at least you’ll only need three GB of installation space, which is impressive.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game will also be launching for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

In this age of $70 and $80 titles, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers from Leenzee offers a substantial action RPG experience for just $50. As Wuchang, you’ll venture through the remains of Shu in the late Ming Dynasty, desperately searching for a cure to the Feathering disease, players will battle humans and monstrous foes with 25 unique weapons and 40 spells. With a playtime of 40 to 60 hours, multiple endings, and the freedom to challenge bosses in any order, it could be the next breakout Souls-like when it launches on July 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

EA Sports College Football 26

The College Football franchise had its long-awaited resurgence last year, and despite some nitpicks, it was pretty good. Launching on July 10th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5, College Football 26 addresses those issues, upping the authenticity with light shows, drone shows, and more mascots while expanding on plays and formations, adding player Archetypes, and incorporating new mechanics like Block Steering.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4

Just when it seemed impossible, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is finally happening, providing a remake compilation of the third and fourth games in the series with gorgeous new visuals and features. Granted, it doesn’t carry over everything – Pro Skater 4’s Career Mode isn’t open-ended, instead comprising two-minute runs. However, you can increase the timer and even engage in unique objectives via Pro Goals. Even with these caveats, it should be another blast from the past when it launches on July 11th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

One of the more impressive-looking titles emerging from the Summer of Gaming, River End Games’ Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream combines a 1900s Nordic-style city with an engrossing narrative and stealth mechanics involving multiple playable characters. Despite the small size of its team, the sheer attention to detail in the world and cutscenes is something to behold. Here’s hoping it delivers some substantial gameplay as well when it launches on July 15th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Mecha BREAK

With its progression issues mostly sorted and new maps and Strikers on the way, Mecha BREAK could be the de facto competitive mecha shooter when it launches on July 1st for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Between the unique abilities of each Striker, the stunning aesthetics, and the range of modes – from 5v5 objective-based play to the extraction shooter chaos of MashMak – there’s something for almost every mecha fan.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong and a younger Pauline team up on an epic new adventure that involves extensive environmental destruction, banana collecting, and thwarting the evil Void Company. Bananza’s platforming seemingly channels Bowser’s Fury with its mix of platforming and exploration, but Donkey Kong carves out his own niche – quite literally since he can wreck just about everything. Those chunks can then function as weapons, traversal tools, and much more. With optional challenge ruins, a variety of abilities and outfits, and Bananza Powers for even more mayhem, Donkey Kong Bananza should be everything we need in a Nintendo platformer when it launches on July 17th for the Switch 2.

Shadow Labyrinth

If you thought Bomberman as a gritty post-apocalyptic action title was concerning, say hello to Pac-Man, the all-powerful devouring entity in Bandai Namco’s Shadow Labyrinth. You primarily control Swordsman No. 8, venturing through an unknown planet’s mazes aided by Puck. Defeating threats allows for the latter to devour them, and you can even fuse for traversing obstacles or even transforming into a powerful mech for more damage. As unorthodox as it seems, Shadow Labyrinth may have some meat to its gameplay when it launches on July 18th for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Killing Floor 3

After a sudden delay, Tripwire’s Killing Floor 3 is now launching July 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. The futuristic setting and premise, where players control the rebel group Nightfall, battling the Zeds manufactured by the megacorp, Horizine, with extensive amounts of gore, is still present. However, it enhanced the overall look and feel of its maps, making them grittier and darker in the process while improving the HUD, enemy Zed AI and performance. So far, so good, and if it delivers on its predecessor’s high-octane action, it may be another incredible time.

Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV

Nintendo’s latest “Hear me out” proposition for the Switch 2 is an enhanced version of the Switch 1’s Super Mario Party Jamboree. It’s out on July 24th for $79.99 and offers improved visuals and performance, new mini-games, Frenzy Rules for faster games and support for the Joy-Con 2’s mouse controls. There’s also Jamboree TV, which requires the Switch 2’s camera, as a new means to experience the game. Whether it’s worth the full price is subjective but if you own the current game and don’t mind spending $20 for the Upgrade Pack, it may be worth checking out.

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

With so many titles in The Lord of the Rings series involving war scenarios and brutal combat, it’s nice to play a life sim that embraces the simpler things. Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game purports to fulfil that fantasy, as you control a Hobbit in the Shire, mingling with others, tending to your garden, cooking meals and hosting parties. It’s available on July 29th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

A throwback to the classic Ninja Gaiden side-scrollers, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound proved incredibly impressive in its recent demo. Alternating between Kenji Mozu and the Black Spider Clan’s Kumori, players engage in a punishing action platforming adventure, continuously chaining powerful strikes to take out enemies. Swift, savage and sleek, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound launches on July 31st for Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business

If Teyon’s base game resonated with you in an old-school first-person shooter sense, then good news as Unfinished Business offers more of the same. As a standalone expansion, it features new abilities and weapons alongside a new range of mercenary enemies and challenges as Murphy ascends the OmniTower. Even more notable are the flashbacks to his pre-RoboCop life, which brings some very human vulnerabilities to the mix. RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business launches on July 17th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Ready or Not

With the SWAT franchise well and truly buried, Ready or Not could serve as a worthy substitute for those who want methodical, tactical shooting. Between managing the status of your units to enforcing real-world tactics, it promises realistic combat scenarios where planning and execution are paramount. Of course, you can also engage in five-player co-op and watch the chaos unfold. Ready or Not is already available on PC and will be launching on July 15th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Total Chaos

A new psychological horror title with an excessively dark color palette wouldn’t ordinarily attract much attention, but Total Chaos is from the creator of the stellar Turbo Overkill. Venturing through an unforgiving world, scavenging materials to make weapons, and battling monstrosities looks intriguing – like a first-person version of Darkwood. PC players can experience it on July 24th, but there’s a free demo available to try now.

Ratatan

If the arrival of Patapon 1 + 2 Replay wasn’t enough, rhythm game fans can look forward to its spiritual successor on July 24th for PC via Steam Early Access. The recent free demo certainly showcased room for improvement, but the appeal of rogue-like rhythm combat with co-op support and more than 100 characters, combined with the stellar soundtrack and gorgeous visuals, looks too good to resist.

Ahead of the game’s looming launch, in fact, developer Weta Workshop and publisher Private Division have released a new gameplay trailer. Showcasing various environments around the village of Bywater, the trailer showcases different seasons, different characters and NPCs that you’ll find and interact with around The Shire (including Gandalf the Grey himself), some of the many activities you’ll partake in around the village (like fishing, among others), and more. You can check out the trailer below.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game will launch on July 29 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Tales of the Shire will see you living out your idea Hobbit life, and a lot of that is on full display in this video. With several members of the development team providing commentary and details, the video showcases customization mechanics (for both your custom Hobbit and the home that you will live in), farming and gardening gameplay, various locations scattered in and around Bywater, exploration, and more. Check it out below. 

Tales of the Shire is due out on July 29 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. There’s no word yet on whether it will also release for the Switch 2.

Creative director Stephen Lambert also outlined the core gameplay pillars to the PlayStation Blog in a new interview. The focus is on the community as you spend time cooking, gardening, fishing and “doing peaceful activities.” Players can also explore by water and inspect the environment to discover secrets and “lovely little glades and areas to hang out within the world.”

Adding to the community aspect is building relationships, which Lambert calls “pretty important.” “Every thread of the story is going to help you not only expand what’s available to you as a player but also broaden the depth of the characters and storylines.”

Of course, you’re free to take things at your own pace. “You can either dive deep into those stories or just live out your own little life along the side. It’s all about enhancing your feeling of peace and tranquillity.”

Another community aspect is shared meals, where you prepare food and invite guests to eat which is pretty laborious. “You’ve got to find a new recipe, grow ingredients or go to the market or fish or forage for them. And then you’ve got to go through the process of cooking, and that’s not just a case of putting the ingredients together. It’s how much of something you add, how much you stir it, and how much seasoning you add that adds characteristics to the food.”

If the food matches a guest’s taste, you may become closer. Players can expect plenty of detail in these dishes if nothing else. “One of our 3D artists who modeled much of the meals used to work as a chef, so they’re all beautifully plated up.”

As for decorating your Hobbit’s smial, you have extensive freedom for moving things around and can even adjust the curvature of the hole.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game launches on July 29^th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

In a statement on Twitter, the developer revealed that it’s “taking a little longer to ensure that every Hobbit, on every platform, can enjoy the same cozy experience.” It wants the title 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.”

Announced in September 2023, Tales of the Shire is a life sim title set in Bywater, part of Middle-earth’s Shire. Players can customize their own Hobbit and engage in numerous activities, from decorating their home and cooking to fishing, gardening and farming.

You can also trade with several villagers and invite them to dinner parties to foster friendships. Given The Lord of the Rings license, there are also some “lost treasures” to discover and hidden glades to investigate. Check out more extensive gameplay here, and stay tuned for further updates in the coming months.

📢 Tales of the Shire needs a bit more simmering… Now coming July 29th, 2025. Thank you for your support and patience.🍽️🥧#TalesOfTheShire #LOTR #cozygaming pic.twitter.com/8afaLnGfFL

— Tales of the Shire (@talesoftheshire) February 20, 2025

This takeover of Private Division comes a couple of months after Take-Two Interactive had announced selling the label to a buyer that was, at the time, undisclosed. According to a report by Bloomberg, the buyer of Private Division is an Austin, Texas-based equity firm named Haveli Investments.

Since then, the report indicates that Haveli has tasked former staff members from Annapurna Interactive with running Private Division. This includes unreleased game from Private Division, like Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game. Other games that will be taken on by this new company include Kerbal Space Program and its sequel, and an unannounced title from the studio behind the Pokémon games, Game Freak.

Haveli Investments itself has not yet made any announcements or statements about the new company, which will essentially include a mix of employees from Private Division and former workers from Annapurna Interactive.

Back when Take-Two had originally sold Private Division, CEO Strauss Zelnick referred to the move as a strategic decision that would allow the company to focus its resources on its main upcoming projects, and said that its strengths lied more in the AAA space than the indie market.

“We made this strategic decision so that we could focus all of our resources on growing our core and mobile businesses for the long term,” said Zelnick in November. “We’re really best at these big AAA experiences. We have the biggest intellectual properties in the interactive entertainment business and some of the biggest intellectual properties in the overall entertainment business, and to make sequels to existing beloved franchises, as well as create new hit intellectual properties, is our mission.”

Quite a few games had been released under the Private Division label since it was originally created back in 2017. This includes games from a variety of markets, from indie titles like OlliOlli World and Rollerdrome, to more ambitious games like Kerbal Space Program 2 and The Outer Worlds.

Annapurna Interactive, on the other hand, had quite a tumultuous year, with most of its staff having resigned from their jobs back in September in the wake of a power struggle between its leadership. The company still currently exists, but hasn’t announced any new titles. The company is reportedly still developing Silent Hill: Townfall, which doesn’t yet have a release date.

Weta Workshop and publisher Private Division have announced that Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game will release on March 25 next year. A new trailer was showcased for the upcoming life sim, showcasing some of the activities you’ll be undertaking as a Hobbit living out their cozy life in Bywater, a charming village in the Shire. Additionally, plenty of new gameplay was also shown off as part of an extended showcase- check it out through here.

When Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game launches on March 25 next year, it will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Stay tuned until its release for more details as they arrive.

Tales of the Shire is, of course, a life sim that will allow players to life the coziest life possible as a Hobbit in a charming little village in the Shire. That, as you might imagine, will mean you’ll be doing everything from gardening and fishing to cooking up meals and more. 

Players will also be able to decorate their very own Hobbit home, with the tools on offer looking quite extensive. Interestingly enough, the game will let you make your home look a little cluttered and messy to really capture that Hobbit aesthetic. 

Throughout the village of Bywater – which is where you’ll be spending your time – you’ll also meet a variety of different characters, each coming with their own unique personalities, little stories to tell, skills to share, items to trade, and more. Check out the showcase below for more details on the game.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game launches on March 25 next year for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The developer recently said on Twitter, “All of us here at Weta 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 first time, we want that moment to be everything you’re hoping for.”

To “deliver that vision”, the team will require some extra time. Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait too long for a new release date as A Hobbit Day Showcase has been announced for September 22nd, 10:30 AM PT. Weta Workshop will provide new details on the title alongside its “new release date.”

The gameplay loop of Tales from the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game will look familiar to Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon fans. It sees players as Hobbits in Bywater, customizing their appearance and decorating their homes with various items.

They can fish, farm, cook, host parties, invite others, trade, and learn new skills. Story missions and daily activities are also available with popular characters also appearing. Stay tuned for more updates next week.

An important update for all Hobbits. pic.twitter.com/NuhOrdmvWX

— Tales of the Shire (@talesoftheshire) September 12, 2024