Bethesda has officially confirmed the existence of the long-rumored remastered version of its acclaimed 2006 open-world RPG, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The announcement, which dropped on the company’s social media channels the morning of April 19, 2023, sent waves of joy and shock through fans and gamers. The remaster has been highly anticipated by fans, and a special livestream is scheduled for Tuesday, featuring gameplay footage and more information on the remaster.
The livestream is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. EST on Bethesda’s Twitch and YouTube channels. By April 21, almost 7,000 registrants were ready for the show to start. They were counting the days until they could see the new and improved version of the classic childhood game. This incredible amount of enthusiasm is a testament to the deep legacy that Oblivion holds among the gaming community.
Adding to the excitement, the official Xbox support account confirmed the game’s existence on Twitter the following day, April 22. This announcement has led many to wonder about the possible release of a remastered original version. It could even zoom to the imaginary bookstore without a traditional marketing push! Leakers and insiders alike are all abuzz with the promise of thrilling new technology. Bethesda is actually going to be the big surprise here by releasing and shadow-dropping Oblivion Remastered!
An early screenshot of the remastered version did leak online on April 15, giving fans a taste of the improved graphics and design. The art from the leak was consistent with other promotional material unveiled last week. That kinda implies one very strong overall visual style for the game. Earlier in 2023 a Reddit user claimed the existence of an Oblivion remake, adding more fuel to the fire of speculation around this project.
Kotaku confirmed back in January that the remake was in development using Unreal Engine. This latest installment looks to make drastic improvements to combat mechanics, stealth systems and gameplay experience as a whole. Fans should expect some big changes and quality of life improvements to the original game. These changes will make it more inviting to newcomers while respecting the classic nostalgic elements that veterans have loved for years.
Creation of Oblivion Remastered was likewise hinted at during the Microsoft / FTC trial this spring in 2006. The massive hype and talk around this remaster is proof enough of the tidal wave it’s expected to create on the gaming landscape.