Bethesda said The Elder Scrolls: Blades will permanently shut down on June 30. The free-to-play mobile game has already been removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Nintendo eShop, bringing an end to a title that once represented the company’s push into mobile gaming.
Strong early download figures gave way to poor reviews
First revealed at E3 2018 with Todd Howard presenting the game on stage, Blades was pitched as an Elder Scrolls experience built for play anywhere. It entered early access in March 2019 and posted more than 1 million downloads in its first week, while iOS revenue topped $1.5 million in the first month.
The reception changed after the game’s full release on Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch in May 2020. The Switch version received a 42 on Metacritic, OpenCritic showed an 8% recommendation rate, and Nintendo Life scored it 3/10. It was also listed as the 10th worst-rated game on Metacritic in 2020.
Linear structure and monetization drew criticism
Criticism centered on the game’s design and monetization. According to the report, its linear stage structure clashed with the open-world identity long associated with the Elder Scrolls franchise. Players also criticized the in-game microtransaction system and energy mechanics.
After announcing the shutdown, Bethesda cut the price of all shop items to 1 gem or 1 sigil. The move gives remaining players a chance to access content they had not purchased before service ends.
Only one Elder Scrolls mobile game remains
Blades is not the first Elder Scrolls mobile title to close. The report said the card game The Elder Scrolls: Legends, which had operated for six years, shut down in January 2025. After Blades goes offline, the only mobile title left in the franchise will be 2024 release The Elder Scrolls: Castles.
As for The Elder Scrolls 6, the article said industry information points to a launch no earlier than 2028 to 2029. It also noted that after Microsoft completed its $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media in 2021, development resources appeared to shift toward console and PC projects.