Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer behind the iconic The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at the work done on the newly released Oblivion Remastered by Bethesda and Virtuos. In a recent discussion with VideoGamer, Nesmith highlighted the immense effort poured into reimagining every aspect of Cyrodiil, suggesting that the term "remaster" might not fully encapsulate the scale of changes made.
"I was assuming this was going to be a texture update," Nesmith remarked. "I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be... I would not have batted an eye at that. But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game."
Despite no prior official announcement from Bethesda, the release of Oblivion Remastered has left fans impressed with its extensive modifications, ranging from visual enhancements to core gameplay adjustments. New features such as a sprint mechanic and a revamped leveling system have led many to view this remaster as more akin to a remake. Nesmith himself leans towards this sentiment, proposing the term "Oblivion 2.0" might be more fitting, given the "staggering amount of remastering" involved.
In his conversation, Nesmith further emphasized the monumental nature of the project, stating, "The closest that could come [to categorising it] is Oblivion 2.0. That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice."
As the gaming community celebrates the release, Bethesda shared its perspective on the remaster. In a social media statement, the studio clarified that their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize it while preserving the essence that fans cherish, "warts and all." They expressed hope that both returning players and newcomers would feel the thrill of stepping out of the Imperial sewer as if for the first time.
“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” the statement read. “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.”
Oblivion Remastered was unveiled and released as a surprise drop from Bethesda, available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can enjoy it at no additional cost. The modding community has also responded enthusiastically to this unexpected launch, further enriching the experience for players.
For those eager to dive in, we offer a comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, advice on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
