Summary

  • The former Blizzard president, Mike Ybarra, is skeptical of remasters, citing a higher bar set by modern masterpieces like Elden Ring.
  • Oblivion Remastered peaked at 182,298 players on Steam, offering a mix of classic elements and modern updates.
  • The remaster features better graphics, improved voice acting, and an overhauled leveling system.

Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra recently commented about The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered 4, throwing shade at the release by saying he’s “skeptical about 20-year-old remasters.” While Oblivion Remastered has been a big hit, opinions about the game vary, and it seems that Ybarra is among the ones not too keen on playing the remaster.

The original Oblivion was released in 2006, and the open-world RPG was one of the biggest hits of the decade. Rumors about a remake made with Unreal Engine 5 were already surfacing for months, and Bethesda finally announced and shadow-dropped Oblivion Remastered earlier this week.

Oblivion Remastered - How To Sprint Guide
How To Sprint & Move Faster In Oblivion Remastered

Thanks to a decision to modernize parts of the gameplay, players are now able to sprint in Oblivion Remastered.

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Now, Blizzard's ex-boss Mike Ybarra has commented on Oblivion Remastered’s launch. While Ybarra did not directly name Oblivion Remastered, he revealed that he is “skeptical” of 20-year-old remasters, claiming that what was once “fantastic” now can’t hold up against modern masterpieces such as Elden Ring, for example. According to Ybarra, “the bar has simply moved from safe open world RPGs” to more complex experiences.

Former President of Blizzard Mike Ybarra Is Skeptical About Oblivion Remastered

Ybarra’s opinion on Oblivion Remastered is certainly controversial, and it does not exactly track with how popular the remaster has been since launch. On the same day of its release, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered peaked at 182,298 players on Steam, which is nothing to scoff at. These are really impressive numbers, especially when considering that the title was launched in the middle of the week and that it’s also available as part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

General opinions on the Oblivion remaster seem to be that the game has maintained its classic elements while modernizing some aspects. Oblivion Remastered features an overhauled leveling system, for example, as well as better graphics and more voice acting, but its quests are mostly the same, and some effort was made to preserve the original feel of the adventure. Even the tradition of making incredibly ugly characters in the popular open-world RPG has been maintained, as gamers are already making horrible monsters as their main characters in Oblivion Remastered.

At the moment, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is available for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. However, new rumors indicate that Oblivion Remastered could be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 after the console is available. The timing of the release is uncertain, though, and rumors such as this one should be taken with a grain of salt until they are confirmed by the developers.

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
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Action
RPG
Open-World
Adventure
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Systems
Xbox-1 PlayStation-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
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Released
April 22, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Virtuos, Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.

Rediscover Cyrodiil
Journey through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.   

Navigate Your Own Story
From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.     

Experience an Epic Adventure
Step inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.  

The Complete Story  
Experience everything Oblivion has to offer with previously released story expansions Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and additional downloadable content included in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Franchise
The Elder Scrolls
Number of Players
Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
PC Release Date
April 22, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
April 22, 2025
PS5 Release Date
April 22, 2025
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
123.2 GB