The Elder Scrolls: Blades has officially launched after spending over a year in Early Access. First announced by Todd Howard at Bethesda's E3 2016 showcase, Blades entered Early Access for iOS and Android back in March 2018.
As a Mobile-focused RPG spin-off the venerable Elder Scrolls series, Blades was heavily scrutinized through every point of its development and initial release. The critical reception to its first Early Access launch was mixed, with reviewers praising the game's visuals and combat, even as they criticized its grinding and reliance on micro-transactions.
Despite this lukewarm critical reception, Blades has certainly been a commercial success so far. Within one week of launch, the game had exceeded 1 million downloads on iOS and was reported to have generated over $1.5 million in revenue by the end of its first month.
The Elder Scrolls: Blades has evolved over the course of its Early Access period, and one of its biggest updates has arrived alongside the official launch. The 1.7 patch has reworked enemy AI, added new quests, and overhauled the Arena system. In addition, players who took part in the Early Access have been sent 150 Gems and the large Emblem decoration as a thank you from the developers.
Elder Scrolls Blades is out now on Android and iOS, and is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2020.