Bethesda takes on Hearthstone with The Elder Scrolls: Legends card game coming this year

A free to play Elder Scrolls-themed card game is coming to PC and mobile later this year.

Bethesda announced the new title during its keynote ahead of the E3 gaming trade show starting tomorrow. The event brought us close looks at the upcoming console/PC titles Fallout 4, Doom, and Dishonored 2, but the surprise announcement of The Elder Scrolls: Legends has a mobile component as well – the game will be available for PC and the iPad, and while no details are available for now, there’s a good chance Legends will eventually hit Android as well.

Bethesda’s announcement lacked details, but the developer released a brief trailer suggesting Legends will feature various classes inspired by the rich lore of the Skyrim universe …and that’s pretty much all we know about the game for now.

TES: Legends appears to be Bethesda’s take on the “strategic card game” genre or, to simplify things, an answer to Hearthstone. Blizzard’s World of Warcraft-themed card game is hugely popular, thanks to its addictive, yet accessible gameplay and engaging P2P action. While the game is free to play, the inclusion of thoughtful in-game purchases (card packs, etc.) ensures a steady stream of revenue for Blizzard. With that said, purchases are not forced upon players in any way, and, as this writer can attest, you can have a superb experience without spending a dime.

Judging from the reactions on the trailer for The Elder Scrolls: Legends, fans were expecting something else from Bethesda (read The Elder Scrolls 6), but this spinoff makes a lot of sense. There’s clear interest in card games right now, especially ones that work cross platform.

While Blizzard sure took its time, the studio eventually brought Hearthstone to Android tablets and smartphones, and we expect Bethesda to follow the same path with The Elder Scrolls: Legends.

Stay tuned for more gaming news this week, as E3 is about to open its gates. Mobile is a big component this year, and our Joshua Vergara and Andrew Grush will be on the ground to bring you hands-on coverage.