'Elder Scrolls: Blades' Release Date News, Beta Early Access, and Gameplay

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was such a huge success that today, you can play some sort of Elder Scrolls on almost any platform you like, from traditional video game systems to the Nintendo Switch to your Amazon Echo smart speaker (yes, seriously). And in early 2019 (following an initial delay), the first-person fantasy franchise is coming to yet another platform with a mobile version titled Elder Scrolls: Blades.

Elder Scrolls: Blades might be a mobile game, but it looks pretty damn good. Here’s everything you need to know, from why the release date was delayed to the latest gameplay images, and from how you can pre-order the title right now to the next time we’ll hear something new about Bethesda’s upcoming app.

When is the Elder Scrolls: Blades release date?

We still don’t know the exact release date, but Elder Scrolls: Blades is set to launch sometime in “early 2019.” The game was originally pegged to arrive by the end of 2018, but Bethesda recently revealed via tweet that the mobile game had been delayed for both iOS and Android.

According to its App Store listing, Elder Scrolls: Blades is “Expected Mar 31, 2019,” but it’s likely that’s just a placeholder for “early 2019” and we don’t actually have to wait that long. If we’re lucky, Bethesda will be ready to launch the game by the end of January 2019, though based on its current track record (and the developer’s troubled launch for Fallout 76), pushing back Blades might be worth it to guarantee a polished, bug-free experience.

Recent evidence suggests the game will indeed be released before the end of March. A newly announced panel at GDC’s Game UX Summer on March 18 reveals that Bethesda UI designed Marie Jasmin will present at a panel titled “Building the Interface of ‘The Elder Scrolls: Blades’ in Landscape and Portrait.”

It seems safe to assume that the company will release the game before this event, though we could be wrong. Bethesda might even use the opportunity to finally set an official release date, or simply release Elder Scrolls: Blades then and there with no warning.

How to Pre-order Elder Scrolls: Blades for iOS and Android

The free mobile game is already listed on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play, where you can confirm your pre-order. That way, as soon as the game actually launches you should get a notification letting you know it’s ready to download.

How to get into the beta for early access to Elder Scrolls: Blades

If you can’t stand the wait any longer, there’s still a chance you could luck into early access. Bethesda is offering a beta, and all you have to do is sign up on Bethesda’s website and hope for the best. The only catch is that you’ll need a Bethesda.net account, but that shouldn’t take much work to set up. Then you’ll (hopefully) be slicing through re-animated skeletons on your smartphone in no time.

What price is Elder Scrolls: Blades?

Elder Scrolls: Blades is free-to-play. Of course, that typically means some sort of in-app purchases to help cover costs for the developer and make earn extra cash.

Bethesda’s last mobile game, Fallout Shelter was also free-to-play with in-app purchases. So it seems like this new one won’t be any different, but we don’t know for sure at the moment.

Can I see some Elder Scrolls: Blades gameplay?

Of course! Bethesda released an early trailer during E3 2018 showing off the goods. The game features a combination of curated and procedurally-generated maps, and you can control the action with taps or by using a pair of virtual on-screen joysticks. Perhaps most importantly, you can play in portrait or landscape mode, which is great for one-handed use.

You can watch the E3 reveal in the video at the top of this post. If you already watched it, check out a second gameplay video from a surprise Bethesda appearance at an Apple event earlier this year.

Can I see Elder Scrolls: Blades running on the iPhone XS?

Sure thing. Here are a few screenshots from Apple’s recent event (via GamesRadar, showing off Elder Scrolls: Blades on the latest and greatest iPhone. You’ll also be able to play on older devices too.

Still want more? Here are five more screenshots from Elder Scrolls: Blades featured in its Google Play listing.