Bruce Nesmith, a senior game designer on the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at the remaster developed by Bethesda and Virtuos, questioning whether the term "remaster" truly captures the extent of the work done. In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith, who played a pivotal role in shaping the 2006 RPG classic, delved into the immense effort behind the original game's world of Cyrodiil. He was particularly taken aback by how the remastered version has transformed nearly every aspect of the game.
Nesmith shared, "I was assuming this was going to be a texture update. 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."
Although Bethesda did not officially announce The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered until its surprise release yesterday, the response from the fanbase has been overwhelmingly positive. The remaster features a range of updates from simple visual enhancements to significant gameplay modifications, including a new sprint mechanic and an altered leveling system. These changes have led many, including Nesmith, to consider it more of a remake than a mere remaster.
Nesmith further remarked, "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."
In his conversation, Nesmith also labeled the remaster as "Oblivion 2.0," reflecting on its extensive reworking. As the gaming community celebrates the efforts poured into The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda has shared its rationale behind naming the RPG re-release. In a social media statement, the studio clarified that it "never wanted to remake" Oblivion but aimed to modernize the beloved experience for both returning players and newcomers, keeping its essence intact, "warts and all."
Bethesda's statement continued, "We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil. 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 as a shadow drop by 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 surprise launch has sparked a vibrant response from the Elder Scrolls modding community, eager to explore and enhance the reimagined Cyrodiil.
For those diving into the remastered experience, our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from an expansive Interactive Map to 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.
