Bethesda has announced that they are opening The Elder Scrolls: Blades to everyone. Any iOS or Android user can download the Blades mobile game, which is currently described as an early access beta, now and for free. You don’t even need a Bethesda account to access it.
We still don’t know when The Elder Scrolls: Blades will receive a fully-fledged formal release, but this beta version should be enough to tide us over. You can read our hands-on thoughts about the game at this link.
It seems that most of this game will take place in first-person, but there is still some kind of character creation game available (even if you’re not always able to see your character). You can control the game either by tapping on the screen to move your character or by using virtual dual joysticks.
Gameplay-wise, there’s quite a bit to do in Blades. Along with a more standard adventure that sees you explore the world and a series of hand-designed dungeons (similar to the hand-crafted dungeons seen in Skyrim) it seems that you’ll also be able to participate in a roguelike mode that features an endless variety of randomly generated dungeons that you must wander until your character falls. On top of that, Bethesda teased the inclusion of some kind of town building mode that lets you design and grow your very own settlement.
As for the story, you play as a member of the fabled Blades (the top agents of the Empire) whose home has been destroyed by unknown forces. As you wander from the only home you’ve ever known, you encounter an epic adventure that makes up the bulk of this experience.
This isn’t really the Elder Scrolls game that we were waiting for (that would be this one), but it might prove to be a cool take on the franchise that offers more than the average mobile title.