The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power stands as one of the most extravagantly produced television series ever, with its inaugural season boasting a staggering production budget exceeding $600 million. This financial commitment is not only unprecedented for a TV show but surpasses the budgets allocated to several major motion pictures. Given the considerable investment made by Amazon in this series, widespread anticipation built around its potential to shatter viewership records, which it accomplished. Despite receiving a largely mixed and often negative response from segments of the fanbase, the show managed to capture an impressive global audience, as evidenced by its initial season attracting approximately 150 million viewers shortly after its premiere in September 2022.
As an Amazon production, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is exclusively available on Prime Video, making it a unique offering in the streaming landscape. Notably, this platform stands out as the sole streaming service featuring exclusive content from the Lord of the Rings franchise. In contrast, Netflix, Prime Video’s largest competitor, does not host any original LotR series. Although the original film trilogy is accessible on Netflix in select regions, there remains a notable absence of new LotR content on that platform, which might have been remedied by incorporating the upcoming video game adaptation, Tales of the Shire, but indications suggest this is unlikely to happen.
Tales of the Shire: A Missed Opportunity for Netflix
Netflix’s Game Library: A Hidden Gem for Subscribers
While many might not realize it, Netflix has expanded its offerings to include a diverse range of video games, available to all subscribers without any additional fees. Although the current selection is primarily limited to mobile devices, it presents a compelling opportunity for gaming enthusiasts. All games offered through Netflix are free from advertisements and microtransactions, enhancing the user experience.
Among Netflix’s games are a mix of exclusive titles and beloved adaptations from console platforms, including titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Oxenfree 2. Notably, Tales of the Shire, which is also a video game designed for consoles, could seamlessly integrate into this catalog.
The Case for Tales of the Shire on Netflix
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is an engaging life simulation game that invites players to embody hobbits and manage their quaint villages within the Shire. Unlike the more intense Middle-earth titles developed by Monolith Productions, this game adopts a vibrant, cartoonish aesthetic reminiscent of popular games like Animal Crossing and Story of Seasons. Development is led by Weta Workshop, renowned for its contributions to the visual effects of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films.
Set to release on March 25, 2025, Tales of the Shire will be available on platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC. Unfortunately, it will not be offered through any subscription services. This absence from Netflix is particularly disappointing, given that the game seems ideally suited for mobile gameplay, featuring a whimsical art style that would likely translate well to mobile devices. Furthermore, its low-pressure, relaxing gameplay would provide an excellent option for on-the-go gaming.
It would have been strategically beneficial for Netflix to collaborate with Weta Workshop and publisher Private Division to develop exclusive mobile ports of Tales of the Shire. Although this game may not have attracted the same level of traffic as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video, it could have filled the gap in Netflix’s lineup of LotR content, offering subscribers something unique.
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