Summary
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra recently commented aboutThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered 4, throwing shade at the release by saying he’s “skeptical about 20-year-old remasters.” WhileOblivion Remasteredhas 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 originalOblivionwas 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, andBethesda finally announced and shadow-droppedOblivion Remasteredearlier this week.
Now, Blizzard’s ex-boss Mike Ybarra has commented onOblivion Remastered’s launch. While Ybarra did not directly nameOblivion 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 asElden 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 onOblivion Remasteredis 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 Remasteredpeaked 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 theOblivionremaster seem to be that the game has maintained its classic elements while modernizing some aspects.Oblivion Remasteredfeatures 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 alreadymaking horrible monsters as their main characters inOblivion Remastered.
At the moment,The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredis available for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. However, new rumors indicate thatOblivion Remasteredcould be released for the Nintendo Switch 2after 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.
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.
