Bethesda Sport Studios and Virtuos’ The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is out now and options a wide selection of enhancements and tweaks that give the 19-year-old RPG basic a contemporary coat of paint.
The workforce behind the overhaul revealed all throughout a particular broadcast right this moment, hitting the highlights of the largest modifications. It’s a livestream that acted as a showcase for drastically altered visuals in addition to a handful of gameplay modifications that can have Cyrodiil feeling and looking extra overseas than ever, and followers have already taken discover. Though some gamers are hesitant about a few of the many, many modifications, most gamers appear to be pleased to have one other excuse to dive again into certainly one of Bethesda’s defining video games.
Oblivion in Unreal Engine 5
Oblivion is approaching its twentieth birthday and is thought for some considerably potato-y character fashions and stiff animations. It’s a part of the attraction that has stored the RPG basic in gamers’ minds for many years, nevertheless it’s additionally one thing that Bethesda and Virtuos wished to contact up in the Oblivion remaster.
Fashions and environments have been rebuilt from the floor up, a new lighting system will make shadows really feel extra lifelike, and lip-syncing expertise will spruce up a few of these beforehand awkward conversations. In some ways, Oblivion Remastered seems to be extra like a remake, one thing many are latching onto as they both return to Cyrodiil or embark for the first time.
“Oblivion Remastered is sort of actually a REMAKE,” declared X / Twitter consumer SynthPotato. “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion feels extra like Remake than Remaster, said HazzadorGamin. “Good job by workforce Virtuos.” “The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered? Do not you imply Remake?!” added GamesLover.
The Argonians and the Khajiit in the Oblivion Remaster OMG I LOVE THEM ♥#Oblivion #OblivionRemastered #TES4 #ElderScrolls pic.twitter.com/LeL7oe043Y
— Xylluk The Dragon (@Xylluk) April 22, 2025
YEPP THEY COOKED
OBLIVION REMASTERED LOOKS AMAZING pic.twitter.com/w24YDHKniF
— Michael (@LegacyKillaHD) April 22, 2025
Sprinting By way of Cyrodiil
One factor that’s stored Oblivion locked away on PS3 and Xbox 360-era platforms is its visuals, however there was loads of room for enchancment when it comes to its gameplay, too. Virtuos jumped on the alternative to modernize the basic formulation with a number of tweaks, with some as small as a cleaner lock-picking system, whereas others, akin to the added capability to dash, supply large modifications to the formulation.
The level-up system now falls someplace in between the one followers know from Oblivion and the system current in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Third and first-person views have been altered as effectively, as Virtuos aimed to reap the benefits of the leaps gaming has made in the final twenty years. Whether or not it’s a surface-level adjustment or a basic change, most followers are at the very least to see how 2025 Oblivion stacks up in opposition to the authentic.
“It seems to be so good. That reveal was superb,” one Reddit user commented. “So many good selections with how to deal with an Oblivion remake. The UI, preserving the outdated lock selecting as an alternative of pasting in Skyrim/Fallout type, making the leveling a hybrid. My solely (very minor) grievance about the reveal was that they sort of spoiled the thieves guild quest line a bit for brand spanking new gamers lol.”
For many individuals, myself included, who did not play as a lot Oblivion or have been very younger, that is primarily getting a BRAND NEW Elder Scrolls right this moment.#OblivionRemastered pic.twitter.com/wpIoTHSJa6
— Robin (@SpectreRobin) April 22, 2025
Take a look at character creation. Additionally they confirmed that Oblivion zoom-in appears to nonetheless be there in some capability for dialog. pic.twitter.com/fWcAD2wKs8
— UESP (@UESP_net) April 22, 2025
Some Issues By no means Change
Whereas Oblivion Remastered modifications a lot that many have already began calling it a remake, Bethesda says its aim was to ship an expertise that upgrades the authentic sport with out dropping what made it particular in the first place.
“I believe when it comes to a remaster, we wish folks to really feel the manner they did then, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a sport of its time,” Bethesda’s Todd Howard stated throughout right this moment’s stream. “You need to preserve these bones in place. You need a few of that outdated attraction.”
Virtuos carried these concepts into its remaster. Animations nonetheless match with the identical clunky awkwardness gamers have come to love, and a lot of that very same stiff dialog has been stored intact, too. The workforce even introduced again a lot of the authentic forged’s strains, so don’t fear, you’ll nonetheless be quoting a lot of the identical strains which were caught in your head since 2006. These are selections that followers are already glomming onto.
“I agree with each choice they made,” one other Reddit user said. “Holding outdated voice actors, including in new ones to break up the monotony. Updating gameplay, however preserving the outdated Oblivion bones. Updating the UI however preserving the parchment aesthetic. God rattling work can’t finish quick sufficient.”
I like how regardless of being 20 years forward and a million occasions extra lifelike, Oblivion’s faces nonetheless look goofy as hell and the strains nonetheless sound completely hilarious.
Additionally the high quality of those clothes and armor units is INSANE pic.twitter.com/WCh1OMtE0e
— Synth Potato🥔 (@SynthPotato) April 22, 2025
16yr outdated me performed Oblivion so 34yr outdated me may play Oblivion nearly 20yrs later. #OblivionRemastered https://t.co/7Oaq19fxyD pic.twitter.com/8ZCvQfwqkK
— Kevin G. (@Darktagger) April 22, 2025
Oblivion initially launched for the PC and Xbox 360 in 2006, with its PlayStation 3 launch following in 2007. It’s remained a favourite amongst RPG followers for almost 20 years, so when rumors of a remake or remaster emerged in the previous few months, pleasure started to develop. Immediately’s reveal is something however a shock, nevertheless it does at the very least include a full breakdown of a few of the largest modifications to be discovered when seeing how the basic has been reimagined.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is out now for everybody on PC, PS5, and Xbox Sequence X and S priced $49.99, in addition to on Xbox Sport Move Final. We have a complete information to every thing 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 Good Character, Issues to Do First, and rather more.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He is greatest identified for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be positive to give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).