To the anticipation of countless players, the classic open-world RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion returns in Remastered form, officially launching on Steam on April 22, 2025. Developed by Virtuos Games and published by Bethesda Game Studios, this title aims to bring this definitive open-world adventure into the modern era, offering significant improvements while also retaining some of the original’s aspects that were not smoothly implemented in terms of technology and performance.

Remakers of a Classic: The Collaboration of Virtuos Games and Bethesda Game Studios

The development work for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was handled by Virtuous Games, a studio with extensive experience in game remakes and ports. Publishing is managed by Bethesda Game Studios, the creators of The Elder Scrolls series themselves. This collaboration aims to bring this beloved classic to modern hardware in a better state.

Revisiting Cyrodiil: Elevated Visuals and Familiar Adventure

The core of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered remains the vast and infinitely possible continent of Cyrodiil. The game retains the original’s iconic open-world exploration, rich main and side quests, and deep role-playing system. Players will once again step into the shoes of the hero who saved the Empire, writing their own legend through free choices.

This Remastered version brings significant visual upgrades, with sharper and clearer graphics, enhanced lighting and shadows, and improved character lip-syncing, blurring the lines between a remaster and a remake. The game also adds a practical sprint button, greatly improving gameplay fluidity. The UI has been modernized, with a more user-friendly compass and menu placement. The skills and leveling system have also undergone major adjustments, incorporating elements from Skyrim‘s mechanics, making enemy scaling less irritating. A brand new Character Origins feature has also been introduced.

However, alongside these significant improvements, the game also retains some of the original’s inherent characteristics. For instance, some NPC facial details may not have received the same comprehensive updates as the environments. The game still exhibits some of the original’s technical and performance imperfections, such as occasional bugs, performance fluctuations, and crashes in certain situations. The long-standing and criticized enemy scaling mechanic, although adjusted, can still impact the gameplay experience in some circumstances.

Why Recommend It? A Blend of Nostalgia and Improvement

• The Return of a Classic RPG: For fans of the original, revisiting this journey with greatly improved visuals holds immense nostalgic value.
• Significant Gameplay Improvements: The addition of a sprint button, UI optimization, and adjustments to the skill/leveling system enhance the overall gameplay fluidity.
• Comprehensive Game Content: The Remastered version includes all original game expansions and DLC, offering the complete Oblivion experience.
• Despite retaining some of the original’s flaws, for players who miss Oblivion and newcomers willing to overlook some of its older design aspects while seeking a classic open-world RPG, this is still a worthwhile title to experience.

Conclusion: A Return Full of Nostalgia, Yet Accompanied by Familiar Era Quirks and Imperfections

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a highly anticipated classic remake that successfully combines the original’s core charm with modern technology. It brings significant visual and gameplay enhancements while also frankly retaining some of the original’s era-specific design elements and imperfections. For those with fond memories of Oblivion, this is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to return to Cyrodiil. For new players, it offers a path to experience this legendary title, though it requires a degree of patience. Overall, it is a return filled with nostalgia; even if imperfect, you can still find your adventure in Cyrodiil.

Release Date: April 22, 2025

Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (Based on common information, Remasters are usually multi-platform)

Steam Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2623190/The_Elder_Scrolls_IV_Oblivion_Remastered/