Summary
- Oblivion Remastered is a massive upgrade to the iconic game with improved visuals and some gameplay improvements.
- Bethesda's decision to maintain some original quirks in the remaster shows they value the essence of their RPGs.
- The launch of Oblivion Remastered could indicate that TES6 will continue Bethesda's signature quirks and immersive energy.
In a surprise twist that almost everyone saw coming due to countless rumors and leaks, Bethesda simultaneously revealed and released The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, which boasts a massive upgrade in its visuals and several gameplay improvements to boot. The upgrade Oblivion Remastered brings to the almost twenty-year-old game is so extensive that it feels like a brand-new game, almost certainly drawing in plenty of newcomers and giving longtime fans a reason to spend another few hundred hours in Cyrodiil. Perhaps the only problem with this, however, is that it could have been an Elder Scrolls 6 update instead.
It has now been almost seven years since the first look at The Elder Scrolls 6, so it's likely that many fans have understandably become a bit impatient as they await another reveal. There was even some speculation that the Oblivion Remastered reveal might actually include a deeper look at The Elder Scrolls 6, but that turned out not to be the case. Even so, regardless of how much time Elder Scrolls fans have already had to spend waiting for more info about the sixth entry, Oblivion Remastered might actually be more important right now for one major reason.
The Unwritten Rules of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Explained
Oblivion Remastered hides a wealth of secrets beneath its surface, so mastering its unwritten rules is key to transforming confusion into freedom.
Oblivion Remastered Is Better Served Right Now Than TES6
Oblivion Remastered Proves Bethesda Still Values What Made Its RPGs Iconic
Despite the numerous rumors and leaks that suggested The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered would be a full remake, it is still technically only a remaster. There are some gameplay improvements — like an overhauled leveling system, an improved third-person mode, and the ability to sprint — but the gameplay by and large has only been improved rather than rebuilt. Even so, that ultimately means that Oblivion Remastered is proof that Bethesda still values what made its RPGs iconic in the first place.
This is not to say that Oblivion Remastered isn't a vastly improved version of the original game, as it is. It's only that Oblivion Remastered forewent "remake" status to prioritize only what arguably needed improvement.
Since Oblivion Remastered only makes a few improvements to the original's gameplay and the overhaul is more largely witnessed in its improved visuals built on Unreal Engine 5, it shows that Bethesda still understands the tone, systems, and jankiness that have defined its RPGs. The developer very well could have improved everything to make it feel even more modern than what Oblivion Remastered has accomplished, but it chose instead to let some of the original game's quirks remain untouched, and that could be a very good sign for The Elder Scrolls 6 moving forward.
Oblivion Remastered May Be a Sign That TES6 Is Maintaining Bethesda's Signature
By now, it has become a bit of a heartwarming and humorous signature of Bethesda for its games to have a little bit of jank here and there — and sometimes a lot. Countless memes and hilarious game clips have shown this quirkiness off in a way that pokes fun but also puts a warm smile on the faces of the developer's longtime fans. For The Elder Scrolls 6 to forego those quirks altogether and be the most polished game Bethesda has ever made, it might ruin what makes the developer's titles so unique.
Oblivion Remastered is proof that Bethesda still values what made its RPGs iconic in the first place.
By going back to Oblivion with Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda is showing that it's not ready to let go of its past just to move forward with The Elder Scrolls 6. In other words, it's a good sign that the next game in the series will maintain the magic of the series, even if that magic is found in occasional jank and hilarious bugs. More than that, however, Oblivion Remastered shows Bethesda still values the same immersive energy of the original game that was arguably lost in Starfield, and it could be a signal that the next chapter in The Elder Scrolls isn't likely to abandon those roots for the sake of modern trends. Instead, it suggests that The Elder Scrolls 6 may carry forward Bethesda's true identity that has always set its games apart.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- April 22, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
