In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glory of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. To keep the fans engaged in the world of Cyrodiil, the developer began rolling out small paid DLC packages. Little did they know, they were charging into controversy with the release of their first DLC in April: horse armor.
Even if you weren't a gamer back then, you might have heard about the horse armor controversy. While DLC wasn't new at the time, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points ($2.50), sparked a significant uproar because the armor was essentially cosmetic and offered no gameplay benefits.
Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like these are the norm, allowing Bethesda to playfully reintroduce horse armor with the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside the base edition, a deluxe edition offers additional content for $10 more, including new quests for unique armors, extra weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, two sets of horse armor.
Fans, now accustomed to cosmetic DLC, have largely embraced this move. Nearly two decades after the original controversy, players are familiar with spending on cosmetic upgrades. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. gamers spent over $10.4 billion on digital add-ons for PC and console games in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he quipped.
Many find Bethesda's nod to the past amusing and even respectful. The company's willingness to reference a once-notorious scandal has resonated well with the community.
PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0
— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025
Honestly I have to respect it. New players won't know this, but releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a subtle reference to when they singlehandedly ruined the industry by selling it the first time around. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX
— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025
£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr
— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025
Oblivion Remastered isn't just about the horse armor; it already boasts mods. Just hours after its release, a selection of community mods surfaced on Nexus Mods, focusing mainly on small customization options.
While waiting for more mods to emerge, you can explore why some players consider this release more of a remake than a remaster and the reasoning behind Bethesda's choice of the "Remastered" label.
For an in-depth look at Oblivion Remastered, we offer a comprehensive guide that includes an expansive Interactive Map, detailed Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, and a list of Things to Do First, among other resources.
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