Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer behind the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at the work done on Bethesda and Virtuos' newly released Oblivion Remastered. In a recent discussion with VideoGamer, Nesmith highlighted the extensive efforts that went into revitalizing every corner of Cyrodiil, suggesting that the term "remaster" might not fully encapsulate the magnitude of the changes implemented.
“I was expecting just a texture update,” Nesmith remarked. “But what they’ve done is a complete overhaul... Redoing the animations, the animation system, integrating the Unreal Engine, altering the leveling system, and revamping the user interface - they’ve touched every aspect of the game.”
Despite no prior announcement from Bethesda, the launch of Oblivion Remastered has been met with enthusiasm from fans, who have praised the extensive modifications. These range from subtle visual enhancements to significant gameplay adjustments, including a new sprint feature and modifications to the leveling system. Many, including Nesmith, feel that the project leans more towards a remake than a mere remaster.
Nesmith went on to suggest a new term for the project: “The closest that could come [to categorising it] is Oblivion 2.0. That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”
As the community celebrates the detailed work on Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda has shared its perspective on the naming of the RPG re-release. In a statement released on social media, the studio clarified that their intention was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize the beloved experience for both veteran and new players, warts and all.
“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” Bethesda’s statement read. “But there are also so many who have never played it. We can’t thank you enough for all the support you have given us and our games over the years. Our hope with this remaster is that, no matter who you are, when you step out of the Imperial sewer – you feel like you’re experiencing it for the first time.”
Oblivion Remastered was unveiled and made available yesterday as a surprise release from Bethesda. It's now playable on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers able to access it at no additional cost. The modding community's reaction to this unexpected launch has been a topic of interest, reflecting the reinvigoration of the Elder Scrolls community.
For those eager to explore the revamped world of Cyrodiil, we offer a detailed guide covering everything in Oblivion Remastered. This includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
