- It's exciting to see that this beloved game, nearly two decades old, has been beautifully remade for today's consoles and PCs!
By TheRoboRai
Bethesda has officially announced The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, following a recent leak.This remastered version of the nearly two-decade-old game has been developed by Virtuous and is available today via a shadow drop. It can be purchased on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S for $49.99, or accessed through Xbox Game Pass.
Todd Howard, the studio head at Bethesda, remarked, "Oblivion was a real defining moment in the series and for how we make games as a studio." The remastered edition boasts enhanced graphics suited to modern hardware and includes the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions. Despite its name suggesting a mere remaster, developer Virtuous has completely rebuilt the game using Unreal Engine 5. They have showcased several comparisons between the original 2006 version and Oblivion Remastered, highlighting substantial differences. All assets in the game have been recreated from scratch, resulting in significantly more realistic shadows.
Moreover, the game's lip synchronization has seen considerable improvement due to advancements in Unreal Engine 5 technologies. The gameplay has been updated, with advancements in audio, user interface, and leveling systems. The new leveling system combines the best aspects of Skyrim and Oblivion, and there have been updates to encumbrance, non-combat perks, and other mechanics.
Bethesda and Virtuous have modernized the third-person view in Oblivion and introduced sprinting. The user interface has been enhanced for systems like Persuasion and Clairvoyance, along with reworks in HUD, menus, and maps, and improved enemy scaling. All characters have received updated animations in light of these significant changes.
Tom Mustaine, Bethesda's external projects and studio director, stated during a reveal stream, "We’ve modernized a lot, but it’s still the same incredible adventure and the same carefully crafted world."
Bethesda is also releasing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition, which features bonus quests, unique armor, weapon, and horse armor sets, a digital artbook, and the official soundtrack.
