Rumors are swirling around Bethesda's plans to unveil a remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in the coming weeks, with a release potentially following soon after. NatetheHate, who has a track record of accurate leaks including the announcement date of the Nintendo Switch 2, has tweeted that the reveal could happen this month or next, a statement backed by VGC. While NatetheHate suggests a release before June, VGC hints at a possible launch as early as April.
Back in January, Mp1st reported on seemingly accidental leaks from a former Virtuos employee, detailing the Oblivion remake. Microsoft, when approached by IGN, chose not to comment. According to Mp1st, Virtuos is using Unreal Engine 5 to completely revamp the game, indicating a full-scale remake rather than a simple remaster. The report also outlined various gameplay changes, including adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reactions, and the HUD. The blocking system, for instance, has been redesigned to align with action games and Soulslikes, aiming to make it less "boring" and "frustrating." Sneak icons are now highlighted, damage calculations have been revamped, and triggering a knockdown from depleted Stamina is harder. The HUD has been simplified for clarity, hit reactions added for better feedback, and Archery updated for both first and third-person views.
The first whispers of an Oblivion remaster surfaced in 2023, stemming from documents released during the FTC versus Microsoft trial over the Activision Blizzard acquisition. These documents, compiled in July 2020 before Microsoft's purchase of ZeniMax Media in March 2021, listed several unannounced Bethesda games, including an "Oblivion Remaster" slated for financial year 2022. Other titles mentioned included an Indiana Jones game, Doom Year Zero and its DLC, Project Kestrel, Project Platinum, The Elder Scrolls VI, a Fallout 3 Remaster, a Ghostwire: Tokyo sequel, and Dishonored 3. Many of these projects faced delays or cancellations, with Doom Year Zero becoming Doom: The Dark Ages set for a May release, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launching in December 2024, and The Elder Scrolls VI missing its 2024 target.
The term "remaster" used in the Microsoft document suggests a less ambitious project than the current rumors of a full remake. It remains to be seen how Bethesda will officially present this project, but it's clear that the scope might have expanded significantly. As for platform availability, with Microsoft embracing multiplatform releases and the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, the Oblivion remake could be accessible on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and potentially the new Switch, possibly even making it into the console's launch window around June.
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