Elder Scrolls: Legends Concludes Eight-Year Run with Server Shutdown

Bethesda‘s digital card game The Elder Scrolls: Legends has permanently ceased operations as of January 30, 2025, marking the conclusion of its eight-year presence in the gaming market. The shutdown, announced by Bethesda in November 2024, renders the game completely inaccessible to players, with both download options and server access now terminated.

The free-to-play collectible card game, which launched in 2017, drew inspiration from the rich lore of The Elder Scrolls series, featuring familiar characters and creatures from Bethesda’s renowned role-playing franchise. Throughout its lifespan, the game received eight expansion sets and maintained an active player community, though recent months saw participation decline to concurrent player counts in the mid-hundreds.

The termination of services is comprehensive, with no offline play options available to former players. The game had already been removed from Steam‘s storefront following the closure announcement in November, signaling the beginning of its wind-down period. While Bethesda has not officially disclosed the reasons behind the shutdown, the combination of declining player numbers and ongoing server maintenance costs likely contributed to the decision.

During its active years, The Elder Scrolls: Legends offered players a narrative-driven experience centered around a conflict with High Elf Naarifin, who had invaded Cyrodiil with plans to unleash the Daedra. The game garnered generally positive reviews throughout its run, establishing itself as a notable entry in the digital card game genre.

The closure comes during a period of continued success for Bethesda, highlighted by the recent achievement of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which has attracted over four million players. Meanwhile, the broader Elder Scrolls franchise continues development, with The Elder Scrolls 6 remaining in production following the completion of Starfield.