The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, a beloved open-world role-playing game, is reportedly being remade with a release date set for 2025. Details of this unannounced project were allegedly leaked by a former employee of Virtuos, a video game support studio. Microsoft, the parent company of Bethesda through its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, has not commented on the reports.
According to the leak reported by Mp1st, Virtuos is using Unreal Engine 5 to completely remake the game, indicating a substantial overhaul rather than a simple remaster. The remake reportedly includes several gameplay changes, such as modifications to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reaction, and the heads-up display (HUD). These changes aim to enhance the player experience, with the Blocking system, for example, being revamped to align more with action games and Soulslikes, addressing the original's perceived shortcomings of being "boring" and "frustrating."
Further details from the leak include updated Sneak icons and revamped damage calculations, making it harder to trigger a knockdown from depleted Stamina. The HUD has been redesigned for clarity, hit reactions have been added for more responsive gameplay, and Archery has been modernized for both first and third-person perspectives.
Rumors of an Oblivion remaster first surfaced in 2023, when documents from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) versus Microsoft trial over the Activision Blizzard acquisition revealed a list of unannounced Bethesda games planned for release. This list, compiled in July 2020, included an "Oblivion Remaster" slated for the financial year 2022. However, many projects on the list have been delayed or canceled, with some titles like Doom Year Zero being renamed to Doom: The Dark Ages and set for a 2024 release.
The shift from a remaster to a full remake suggests a significant expansion of the project's scope. As for the platforms, Microsoft's current strategy leans towards multiplatform releases, which could mean the Oblivion remake will be available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and potentially the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Leaker NateTheHate has suggested a June 2025 release for the remake, aligning with the rumored launch window of the Nintendo Switch 2.
While Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Developer Direct will focus on Doom: The Dark Ages and tease a new game from a legendary Japanese IP, it seems unlikely that the Oblivion remake will be unveiled there. Fans eagerly await official confirmation and further details on this highly anticipated remake.