Original Oblivion Designer Claims ‘Remaster’ Undervalues New Release

Oblivion’s Upcoming Release: Remaster or Revolution?

The gaming community has been abuzz with speculation since the recent rumors regarding the return of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Initially, it seemed that this project would be categorized as a remaster based on Bethesda’s internal documents disclosed during the Microsoft vs. FTC trial. However, developments have since revealed a more ambitious venture. Bethesda has engaged the services of Virtuos, a developer known for their involvement in projects like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, to port Oblivion to Unreal Engine 5 while significantly enhancing various game elements, including combat, leveling systems, and user interface.

Surprising Transformations: Insights from Original Designer

The reveal and subsequent launch of the updated version earlier this week showcased an unexpected level of effort in reworking the game. One notable perspective comes from Bruce Nesmith, the original Design Director for Oblivion and a key contributor to Skyrim and Starfield. After leaving Bethesda in September 2021 to focus on writing, Nesmith expressed his astonishment regarding the sheer scale of the overhaul. In an interview with Videogamer, he shared:

I spent a lot of years working on that game. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into it, along with everybody else on the team. And I intimately knew every single scene that they were showing. And they looked amazing. 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. That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure ‘remaster’ actually does it justice. The closest that could come to categorizing it is Oblivion 2.0.

Embracing Modding: A New Era for Creativity

In addition to its graphic enhancements, this new release will also support extensive modding capabilities. While the visuals leverage Unreal Engine 5’s advanced graphics, the underlying game logic remains rooted in Oblivion’s original framework. This compatibility enables the migration of numerous classic mods, with an exciting future ahead as the modding community continues to thrive. As of now, over 270 mods are already available on Nexus Mods, marking just the initial phase of this dynamic creative process.

Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on Bruce Nesmith’s characterization of this release? Do you believe that Oblivion has truly evolved into something akin to ‘Oblivion 2.0’? We invite you to share your opinion in our poll below.

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