Tales of the Shire Won’t Launch on Xbox Game Pass—Here’s What You Need to Know

Tales of the Shire A The Lord of the Rings Game (Image Credit: Wētā Workshop)

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is officially set to release on July 29, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. However, for those hoping to experience life as a Hobbit through Xbox Game Pass, there’s some disappointing news—the game will not be available on the subscription service at launch.

The confirmation is clear: Tales of the Shire is not a first-party Xbox title, and no announcements have been made by Microsoft or developer Wētā Workshop regarding its inclusion on Game Pass. Given that Xbox has already unveiled the second wave of Game Pass additions for July—which includes titles like Grounded 2 and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers—it’s safe to say this Lord of the Rings-inspired cozy sim won’t be a part of it, at least not for now.

This doesn’t mean the door is permanently closed. As with many third-party titles, there’s always a chance Tales of the Shire could find its way to Game Pass later down the line. Xbox frequently adds previously released games to its catalog months after launch. However, there’s currently no concrete timeline or hint that Wētā Workshop is pursuing this path, and since this is their first video game release, there’s no precedent to look back on either.

So, if you're planning to cozy up in the Shire on release day, purchasing the game outright is your only option for now. Thankfully, there are multiple editions to choose from, depending on your platform and preference.