The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion senior game designer Bruce Nesmith has expressed that Bethesda and Virtuos' Oblivion Remastered is so impressive that he questions whether the term "remaster" truly reflects the extent of the work done on it.
Nesmith, a key figure behind the original 2006 RPG, shared his insights with VideoGamer about the recently announced and released Oblivion Remastered. He highlighted the immense effort that went into recreating every detail of Cyrodiil, making the reimagining of Oblivion a surprising and comprehensive transformation.
“I was expecting just a texture update,” Nesmith admitted. “But they’ve announced a complete overhaul... I wouldn’t have been surprised by that. Yet, redoing the animations, the animation system, integrating the Unreal Engine, altering the leveling system, and redesigning the user interface—they’ve touched every aspect of the game.”
Despite no prior official announcement from Bethesda, the release of Oblivion Remastered has left fans impressed with its extensive changes, ranging from superficial visual enhancements to deep gameplay modifications. New features like a sprint mechanic and an updated leveling system have led many, including Nesmith, to view it more as a remake than a remaster.
“The closest term we could use to categorize it might be Oblivion 2.0,” Nesmith remarked. “It’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word. I’m not sure 'remaster' actually does it justice.”
In further discussions, he labeled the project as potentially being Oblivion 2.0, reflecting its extensive transformation.
As the community celebrates the efforts behind Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda has provided insight into their naming decision for this RPG re-release. In a social media statement, the studio clarified that their intention was not to remake Oblivion but to preserve the core experience for fans while updating it for new players, embracing all its original elements, "warts and all."
“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” the statement continued. “But there are also so many who have never played it. We can’t thank you enough for your support over the years. Our hope is that everyone, whether new or returning, feels like they’re experiencing it for the first time when stepping out of the Imperial sewer.”
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was unexpectedly revealed and released as a shadow drop by Bethesda. It’s now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and is accessible at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The surprise launch has sparked excitement within the Elder Scrolls community, especially among modders.
For a deeper dive into Oblivion Remastered, we offer a comprehensive guide that includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete 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.
