After months of speculation and rumor-mongering,The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredis finally here, and it’s quite a sight to behold.Bethesda’s choice to shadow-drop this gamewith virtually no official marketing push, and even the choice to call it a “remaster” rather than a “remake,” undermines just how impressive this project is: it’s a majorly enhanced version of the 2006 classic, making it a treat for both new and returning players.
But one shouldn’t overlook another objective positive ofOblivion Remastered: it shows a new generation how great the fourthElder Scrollsgame was and still is, while reminding returning players of what made the series so beloved in the first place. Oblivion, both the original and the remastered version, is Bethesda at its best. In the wake of controversial releases likeFallout 76andStarfield, and evenFallout 4to a lesser extent, it can be easy to forget the unparalleled dominance that Bethesda once held in the RPG space—even seminal titles likeDemon’s Soulswere developed, at least in part, to directly compete withOblivion, so firm was its grasp on the genre. A walk down memory lane is nice and all, butOblivion Remasteredshould also inspire Bethesda to get back in top gear with its next project.
After Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda Needs To Prove that Its Best Days Are Still Ahead
Bethesda Isn’t as Universally Respected as It Once Was
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the gaming community has evolved over the years. What was once a relatively niche, occasionally even fringe, hobby has now become decidedly mainstream. Thisexplosion in the popularity of gamingin recent years means that a number of new perspectives have entered the space, effectively eliminating the ubiquity of any given opinion. This broadening of viewpoints has correlated with a greater degree of experimentation on the part of game-makers, resulting in an industry that is more diverse and creatively rich than ever before.
And in the opinion of many gamers, both new and weathered, Bethesda simply hasn’t been able to stay at the forefront of this rabid innovation, surpassed bystudios like CD Projekt Red and Warhorse Studios. In other words, Bethesda has been beaten at its own game, as it were, and games likeFallout 76andStarfield, though not without their fans, haven’t been the shot in the arm the company needs to stay competitive. WithOblivion Remasteredserving as a reminder of what Bethesda Game Studios was once capable of, that shot in the arm ought to come sooner rather than later.
Bethesda Innovated With Oblivion, and It Needs To Innovate Again
It’s telling thatOblivion Remasteredfeels fresh and uniqueall these years later, whereasStarfield, a game released not even two years ago, has been endlessly criticized for lacking innovation. Bethesda’s unwillingness to meaningfully improve its character animations and AI contributes to this, of course—a game likeStarfieldsimply looks and feels older at a glance—but the problems run deeper than that.
The aforementioned Warhorse Studios and CD Projekt Red are great examples of what can be done with a modernized Bethesda formula. Games likeKingdom Come: DeliveranceandCyberpunk 2077take clear cues from classic Bethesda titleswith their progression systems, narrative structures, and approach to world design, but with deep, clever changes made to moment-to-moment gameplay, build-crafting, and more. This isn’t to say that Bethesda needs to copy these other studios’ homework, but such RPGs are useful for highlighting the ways that the company may be lagging behind; the developer can’t simply sit by while other studios innovate upon its classic formula. If it can heed the call of innovation, perhaps audiences will experience another cultural phenomenon on the level of the originalOblivion.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
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 CyrodiilJourney 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 StoryFrom the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.Experience an Epic AdventureStep 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 StoryExperience 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.
