Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer behind the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at the extent of the work done on Bethesda and Virtuos' Oblivion Remastered. In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith suggested that the term "remaster" might not fully capture the scope of the project. He highlighted the immense effort, describing it as "blood, sweat, and tears," that went into crafting every detail of Cyrodiil, making the reimagining of the game in nearly every aspect all the more surprising.
"I was expecting just a texture update," Nesmith admitted. "But this is a complete overhaul. They've redone the animations, the animation system, integrated the Unreal Engine, altered the leveling system, and revamped the user interface. They're touching every part of the game."
Despite no prior official announcement from Bethesda, the sudden release of Oblivion Remastered yesterday has left fans impressed with the extensive changes, ranging from minor visual enhancements to significant gameplay modifications. New features like a sprint mechanic and adjustments to the leveling system have led many, including Nesmith, to consider it more of a remake than a remaster.
Nesmith went as far as to suggest that the remaster could be thought of as "Oblivion 2.0," emphasizing the vast scale of the update. "That’s a staggering amount of remastering," he noted. "It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure 'remaster' actually does it justice."
In his reflections, Nesmith labeled the project as "Oblivion 2.0," a testament to its comprehensive nature. As fans celebrate the meticulous work on Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda provided insight into their naming decision for this RPG re-release via a social media statement. They clarified that their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize it for new players while preserving the beloved experience for returning fans, warts and all.
"We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil," Bethesda stated. "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."
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was unveiled and released yesterday as a surprise drop from Bethesda. It's now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can access it at no additional cost. The modding community has responded enthusiastically to this unexpected launch, reinvigorating the Elder Scrolls fanbase.
For a detailed look at what Oblivion Remastered offers, our comprehensive guide covers everything from an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, and Things to Do First, and much more.
