Last month's The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered turned out to be quite an exciting release, serving players an upgraded and visually enhanced rendition of the seminal 2006 RPG. More than anything, Oblivion Remastered is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminding audiences of what Bethesda used to create before it grew into the household name that it is today.
But Oblivion Remastered also reveals the lack of innovation that plagues so many of Bethesda's modern titles. Yes, games like Fallout 4 and Starfield are certainly different from the likes of Oblivion and Morrowind, with distinct visual styles, narrative tones, and moment-to-moment gameplay, but the broad-strokes elements of Bethesda's formula remain mostly unchanged. The way that the studio structures its open-world, for example, is practically the same, even if aspects of scale and setting change drastically, and quest design is remarkably consistent as well. Naturally, this is precisely what a lot of players want: for Bethesda games to stick to a tried-and-true formula. But innovation and risk-taking are essential practices for any studio, and many other demographics had been hoping to see more of such practices in Bethesda's recent endeavors. In the wake of Oblivion Remastered, the studio could have the best of both worlds.
Oblivion Remastered is Proof The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Put Its Own Spin on a Standout Magic Feature
Oblivion Remastered makes a strong case for The Elder Scrolls 6 to add the ability to craft spells, but not exactly like Oblivion's.
Bethesda Could Move Forward While Staying Familiar by Repeating its Oblivion Remastered Strategy
More Remasters Could Give The Elder Scrolls 6 Room To Experiment
Bethesda's developers and most dedicated fans clearly enjoy the classic Elder Scrolls and 3D Fallout formula, but it's also apparent that not everyone is on board with such strong adherence to tradition. Lack of growth was one of the most prominent criticisms of Starfield at launch, and even the game's fans agree that its strengths lie in what it does with the Bethesda RPG template, not how it recontextualizes or builds upon it. Starfield exemplifies Bethesda's loyalty to its long-running formula, for better and for worse.
A game like Oblivion Remastered can more appropriately leverage old-school design elements, for obvious reasons. Indeed, no one expects Oblivion Remastered to reinvent the wheel—it helped to invent the wheel the first time. Thus, maybe Bethesda could stoke the flames of its unmistakable design template every few years with remakes and remasters, upgrading older games for more modern sensibilities. This would allow the company to tighten the screws on its formula, making it smoother, prettier, and more contemporary, thereby satisfying fans who simply want a polished version of these older titles—which is arguably what Starfield and Fallout 4 are.
Satisfying this vector could then allow Bethesda to get more creative with The Elder Scrolls 6 and future RPGs, as audiences would still be able to enjoy the older style via remakes. In theory, this bifurcated approach could result in a far more ambitious, creative, and risky Elder Scrolls 6, one that eschews tradition and player expectations in favor of radical reinvention. Bethesda could have its cake and eat it too.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Needs Change, Regardless of Bethesda's Broader Strategy
While Starfield most definitely has a strong fanbase, it wasn't the smash-hit that Bethesda or Microsoft hoped for. The fact is, after the lukewarm reception of Fallout 4 and the disastrous early days of Fallout 76, Bethesda needed Starfield to be an unambiguous hit, not a modest success garnering mixed opinions.
One could speculate about Starfield's shortcomings at length, but its unwillingness to embrace change, offering the same approach to structure, progression, exploration, and narrative delivery as previous Bethesda titles, was definitely a key factor in it underperforming. Come The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda would be wise to push the envelope a bit further, and more remasters, whether they be of Elder Scrolls or Fallout titles, could facilitate this.
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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
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
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 123.2 GB
