TouchArcade Rating:

After having to endure countless disappointing delays in the build-up to the release of The Elder Scrolls: Blades (Free), it’s particularly fitting that, even at the eleventh hour, there could be yet another twist in the tale. However, this time around it’s good news for anyone anticipating Bethesda’s mobile take on its iconic role-playing series. Despite being given a March 31st launch estimate late last year, The Elder Scrolls: Blades has today suddenly changed its release date to March 28th – in other words, tomorrow – and has subsequently released as a free download in New Zealand (where it has already gone past midnight). This means that, while you may still require an early access invitation to play the actual game, The Elder Scrolls: Blades has finally released on the App Store.

For anyone who has recently awoken from an eight-month coma and may have missed the announcement of The Elder Scrolls: Blades, it really is a full realisation of the Elder Scrolls series on mobile. Of course, the restrictions of the ambitious one-handed control system means the game is more focused on linear exploration instead of the gargantuan open-ended sprawl of the likes of Skyrim, but with beautiful graphics and a really intuitive combat system, The Elder Scrolls: Blades definitely looks like the AAA mobile title we’ve been waiting for. However, the app’s release today doesn’t necessarily mean it’s immediately playable – the game is requires a Bethesda account, and so we’re at the mercy of whether they decide to implement their early access process. Furthermore, some Twitter users who have already downloaded the game have reported that the game’s servers are planned to launch on the original March 31st date at midnight, and so there won’t be too much you can do within The Elder Scrolls: Blades at this current time.

Still, with the game now officially released on the App Store, we can confidently eliminate all worries of it becoming the next Infinity Blade: Dungeons and being delayed ad infinitum. I’d definitely recommend signing up for early access through the Bethesda website just to be safe, but regardless, we’ll be sure to keep you updated of any news surrounding The Elder Scrolls: Blades as we understand more about its release and monetisation model in the coming days.