The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Surprise Launch Sparks Debate
The gaming world was treated to a surprise on April 22nd, 2025. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was dropped. As might be predicted, whenever an old game gets a new coat of paint, the internet is eager to argue over nitty-gritty semantics. Is it truly a "remake," or just a "remaster" Bethesda saw the argument coming and wished to present their side of things.
Directly from the Developers
Bethesda made a post on their website directly to the fans. They let people know that this new version of Oblivion has been underway since 2021. They also thanked the Virtuos studio for their massive help. It looks like this was quite a large project for Virtuos, bigger than others they'd worked on before.
In their statement, the developers were quite upfront. They don't really view this new iteration as a "remake" in the traditional sense. Their goal wasn't to completely remake Oblivion from the ground up. Instead, they set out to take the original game and update it to the modern world with current technology. Essentially, to make it look and run much better without changing its fundamental nature.
They did own up to the fact that some changes were necessary. Going back to the leveling system and adjusting some of the mechanics was a part of that. But they stressed that the soul and essence of the RPG, the things the fans remember and love from the 2006 original, was very deliberately preserved. That core Oblivion experience, the Bethesda Game Studios team asserted, was their absolute top priority to preserve.
Where to Play
For those willing to step once more into Cyrodiil, Oblivion Remastered is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. If you're a Game Pass subscriber, you're in luck. You can download and play the remaster at no extra charge as part of your subscription.
