Back in 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glow of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. To keep the excitement alive, they began rolling out small paid DLC packages. Little did they know, they were about to stir up a storm with their first release in April: horse armor. Even if you weren't into gaming back then, you might have heard about the horse armor controversy. While DLC was already around, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points ($2.50 at the time) on the Xbox 360 Marketplace, sparked outrage due to its perceived lack of utility.
Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like horse armor have become the norm. This allowed Bethesda to humorously reintroduce horse armor with the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside the shadow-drop announcement, we discovered that the remaster comes in two versions: a base edition and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10, deluxe edition buyers gain access to new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and yes, horse armor—two sets, to be exact.
Interestingly, fans are taking this in stride. Nearly two decades after the initial shock of cosmetic DLC, players are accustomed to paying for aesthetic enhancements. As noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella 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 remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.
In fact, many find Bethesda's playful nod to the once-infamous scandal amusing. Here’s what some fans had to say on social media:
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's also mod-friendly. Just hours after its launch, a selection of community mods appeared on Nexus Mods, primarily offering small customization options.
As we eagerly await more mods, delve into why some players believe today’s release is more of a remake than a remaster and why Bethesda chose to label it as "Remastered."
For a deep dive into Oblivion Remastered, check out our comprehensive guide, which 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.
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