Bethesda Recreation Studios is clarifying its stance on why Virtuos’ newly launched The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered isn’t thought-about a remake.
The studio behind the traditional fantasy RPG collection touched on why it’s referred to as Oblivion Remastered and never Oblivion Remake in a post on X/Twitter today. It’s a prolonged clarification for what Bethesda itself defines as a remaster and why it selected to take the trail that it has. Because the developer thanked those that are enjoying Oblivion for the primary time or revisiting it, it outright mentioned it “by no means wished to remake it.”
“We by no means wished to remake it – however remaster it – the place the unique sport was there as you keep in mind enjoying it, however seen via at this time’s know-how,” Bethesda defined.
The studio’s clarification arrives as followers not solely (formally) see Oblivion Remastered for the primary time but in addition go hands-on, too. It’s out now, bringing visible adjustments throughout the board alongside just a few basic gameplay tweaks. Highlights embrace the power to dash in addition to a brand new level-up system that’s being described as a cross between what was discovered within the unique Oblivion and the method gamers noticed in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
Whether or not it’s a brand new design for a sewer grate or a game-changing addition, the insurmountable variety of tweaks has many gamers feeling like Oblivion Remastered is extra of a remake than a easy recent coat of paint. The final decade has certainly been polluted by online game remasters that principally focus on minor visible enhancements, however Bethesda remains to be hesitant to name its Oblivion re-release, which it began working on in 2021, a full-on remake.
“We checked out each half and thoroughly upgraded it,” Bethesda continued. “However most of all, we by no means wished to change the core. It’s nonetheless a sport from a earlier period and may really feel like one.
“We all know lots of our longtime followers might be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil. However there are additionally so many who’ve by no means performed it. We are able to’t thanks sufficient for all of the help you might have given us and our video games over time. Our hope with this remaster is, that regardless of who you might be, while you step out of the Imperial sewer – you’re feeling such as you’re experiencing it for the primary time.”
From all of us at Bethesda Recreation Studios… pic.twitter.com/AKlUXrmYW5
— Bethesda Recreation Studios (@BethesdaStudios) April 22, 2025
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is out now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Sequence X and S and can be accessible to play via Xbox Recreation Move Final. We have a complete information to all the pieces you will discover in Oblivion Remastered, together with an expansive Interactive Map, full Walkthroughs for the Predominant Questline and each Guild Quest, How to Construct the Excellent Character, Issues to Do First, and rather more.
Michael Cripe is a contract contributor with IGN. He is greatest identified for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Ensure to give him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).