Bethesda announced in May 2021 that its Bethesda.net forums would close in stages: forum categories began switching to read-only on May 24, and archiving was scheduled to start July 6. Bethesda directed community discussion toward Discord, Reddit and social media, while keeping technical support on its Help Portal. The separate official Elder Scrolls Online forums were not part of the closure. This was a 2021 transition, not a new shutdown.
What happened, and when?
Bethesda announced the plan on May 17, 2021, saying it believed community conversations had moved to other communication platforms. The company described the change as a sunset of the Bethesda.net forums, with a staged transition rather than every page disappearing on a single date. Bethesda’s announcement set out this timeline:
| When | What Bethesda said would happen |
|---|---|
| May 17, 2021 | Bethesda announced the forum sunset and named Discord and other social platforms as community destinations. |
| May 24, 2021 | Forum categories would begin switching to read-only. Members could view existing material temporarily but could no longer post or reply. |
| 30 days after the read-only transition | Bethesda said users would have 30 days to save post contents they wanted to keep. The announcement did not promise a bulk export tool or a complete downloadable account archive. |
| July 6, 2021 | Archiving was scheduled to begin with smaller, less-populated categories. Bethesda said an archived category would no longer be accessible. |
The July 6 date was the planned start of archiving, not a promise that every historic thread would remain available in a public, searchable archive. The announcement described the schedule; it does not establish that all posts were preserved or exactly when each category became inaccessible.
Which services were affected?
Bethesda.net forums and Mods comments
The change applied to Bethesda.net forum categories. It also affected comments on Bethesda.net Mods because, according to Bethesda, those comments were powered by the forums. That meant mod users could lose a familiar place to ask authors questions, discuss compatibility, or follow troubleshooting threads.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Bethesda encouraged mod authors to include social-media links or personal Discord servers in their mod descriptions. For broader discussion, it pointed users to official Discord communities and other social channels.
The Elder Scrolls Online forums were excluded
The separate official ESO forums were not included. Bethesda said they were operated separately and would remain in operation; an ESO staff response made the same distinction. The ESO Discord server appearing in Bethesda’s list of community destinations did not mean the ESO forums were closing.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
See the ESO staff clarification for that forum-specific answer.
Where Bethesda directed players
The 2021 announcement listed official Discord destinations for Arkane, Bethesda, Bethesda Studios, DOOM, Elder Scrolls Online and Quake. Because invite links and server arrangements can change, use Bethesda’s current community hub to find its current destinations rather than relying on an old invite link. The hub also points visitors toward Bethesda Support and the separate ESO forums.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Community discussion: Bethesda and game-specific Discord servers, Reddit and Bethesda social channels.
- Account or in-game problem: Bethesda Support, which Bethesda identified as the route for customer-support issues.
- ESO-specific discussion: The ESO official forums and its own community channels.
- Mod questions: The channel linked by the mod author, or a relevant community space. A Discord conversation is not the same as an official support case.
Joining Discord does not guarantee a response from Bethesda staff, and it is not required to submit a support issue through the Help Portal. Check that a server link comes from a Bethesda-owned page or the relevant game’s official site before joining.
What changed when forum threads moved to Discord?
Discord offered faster, more immediate conversation, organized channels, voice chat, file sharing, reactions and notifications. That can suit multiplayer groups and active communities. A forum, however, is built around persistent topic-based threads: it is generally easier to follow a long troubleshooting exchange, link to a specific answer, or arrive later through a web search.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Need | Forum-style discussion | Discord chat |
|---|---|---|
| Find a past solution | Topic-based threads and public web indexing can make an older answer easier to locate. | Messages may be harder to find amid newer conversation; visibility can depend on server membership and channel permissions. |
| Discuss a problem in real time | Replies can arrive asynchronously, without everyone being online together. | Fast back-and-forth and notifications can help active groups coordinate. |
| Follow long troubleshooting | A thread keeps replies and context together. | Conversation can split across channels or be overtaken by new messages. |
| Reach occasional visitors | Public links can remain useful to people who find a discussion later. | Access may depend on joining the server, and older chat is not necessarily a durable reference. |
This is a practical difference between formats, not a claim by Bethesda that Discord provides an equivalent archive. If you need a lasting guide or bug report, keep your own copy of the useful details and links rather than assuming a busy chat channel will preserve them in an easy-to-find form.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to protect useful old posts and use Discord safely
Preserve information you may need again
Bethesda’s 30-day notice concerned saving post contents; it did not establish that an export feature was available. For material you can still access, save the information in a form you can retrieve independently. Prioritize:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsQuick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
- Your own guides, build notes and troubleshooting posts.
- Replies with fixes, settings or configuration details.
- Mod compatibility notes, external links, screenshots and attachments.
- Account-specific troubleshooting history and long-running bug discussions.
- Advice relevant to older PC or console versions that may be harder to find later.
Check the destination before sharing or responding
- Find Discord invitations through Bethesda’s community hub or the relevant official support page; historic invitations may no longer work.
- Review server rules, moderation, game coverage and channel permissions. Adjust notification and privacy settings to control pings and direct messages.
- Do not treat an unsolicited direct message as official support. Discord warns that official staff will not directly message users with Nitro offers; avoid suspicious links and offers. See Discord’s Nitro-offer safety guidance.
- Discord’s current documentation lists a 10 MB file-sharing limit and a base cap of 100 servers for free accounts. Those limits may matter when sharing large attachments or joining many communities, but Nitro is not required to join a Bethesda server or take part in ordinary discussion. See Discord’s account and server caps documentation.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
