Oblivion Remastered: A Stunning Visual Upgrade That Preserves the Classic's Soul – And It's a Huge Hit!

When Bethesda finally revealed Oblivion Remastered earlier this week, it felt almost unbelievable. Somehow, 2006’s journey to Tamriel, fondly remembered for its… unique character faces and somewhat blurry landscapes, now stands as the best-looking Elder Scrolls game ever made. Many, including myself, have been conditioned to expect underwhelming results from remasters – examples like Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dark Souls Remastered didn’t offer massive visual leaps. To see the Imperial City, a place explored nearly 20 years ago, rendered in Unreal Engine 5 with ray tracing was a genuine surprise.

What makes it even more remarkable is that the game has also been enhanced with upgrades to combat, RPG systems, and numerous other details. This led some, including the original game’s senior game designer Bruce Nesmith, to question whether “remaster” was the right word – perhaps this was truly a remake?

A Remaster in Disguise?

After several hours of gameplay, it became clear that while Oblivion Remastered looks like a remake, it plays like a remaster. Virtuos, the developers behind the project, have undeniably put in a massive amount of work. “Every single asset redesigned from scratch” is not an exaggeration – every tree, sword, and crumbling castle is brand new, bringing the game up to modern graphical expectations. The beautiful textures, gorgeous lighting, and new physics system create a visually stunning experience. Even the NPCs, while recognizable, have been entirely recreated.

But it’s not just about visuals. Combat has been overhauled, making swordplay feel more engaging. A functional third-person camera with a reticule has been implemented. The menus—quest journal, dialogue, lockpicking, persuasion—have all been refreshed. Most importantly, the often-criticized original leveling system has been replaced with a hybrid approach drawing elements from both Oblivion and Skyrim. And, hallelujah, you can now sprint!

The Semantics of Remasters and Remakes

The core issue isn't technology or the extent of changes, but the terminology itself. There are no hard-and-fast industry definitions for "remake" and "remaster," leading publishers to use the terms loosely. The Grand Theft Auto: Definitive Edition remasters are a prime example of a lackluster upgrade, while the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy felt like a true visual overhaul. Remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls were faithful rebuilds, while Resident Evil 2 redesigned gameplay while retaining the core structure, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake drastically altered the story and design.

Traditionally, a remake involved rebuilding a game from scratch in a modern engine, while a remaster was limited to upgrades within the original technology. Now, perhaps, it's more accurate to define a remaster as a graphical overhaul preserving the original design (with quality of life improvements) and a remake as a complete redesign.

Applying this definition, Oblivion Remastered is accurately named. Yes, the new assets and Unreal Engine 5 effects make it look brand new, but beneath the surface lies the core of the 20-year-old game – the "bones, organs, and muscles" are still very much there, albeit hastily patched together in that distinctly Bethesda way. As the studio explains, “We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it. But most of all, we never wanted to change the core. It’s still a game from a previous era and should feel like one.”

The Hallmarks of a Bygone Era

The evidence of that previous era is everywhere. The loading screens between almost every door, the baffling persuasion minigame, the simplistic city designs, the awkward NPC movements and stilted dialogue, the somewhat detached combat, and even the remaining bugs and glitches all contribute to that uniquely Oblivion feel.

Compared to more modern RPGs like Obsidian’s Avowed, Oblivion Remastered feels like a relic, but it still manages to offer something special. The magic of the world still shines through, filled with mysteries and oddities. The ambition of the dynamic goblin wars and the narratively satisfying questing are still commendable. The old-school player freedom is refreshing in an era where games often hold your hand. However, the granular details – the dialogue, system interconnections, and level design – are showing their age.

Like a restored classic film, Oblivion Remastered pushes visual quality as far as possible while retaining the original's essence. As explained by Alex Murphy, executive producer at Virtuos, the original game engine is the "brain," while Unreal Engine 5 is the "body," bringing the beloved experience to life.

Success and Fan Response

Publicly, Bethesda is celebrating the success of the remaster, announcing that overfour millionplayers have already ventured into Cyrodiil and that the game is currently the top seller on Steam.

The release is at a time when the RPG scene is has exploded in popularity, with the new Baldur's Gate 3 patch providing competition to the new release. Despite existing on Steam's Game Pass, the PC sales of the remaster have remained high.

Skyblivion Remains on Track

Fans of Oblivion eager for a more substantial overhaul can look forward to Skyblivion, a fan-made project aiming to recreate the game in Skyrim's engine. The Skyblivion team isn't deterred by the official remaster, even watching the reveal together and reacting positively.

The team plans to release Skyblivion this year, and the official remaster doesn’t change those plans. They believe there's room for both projects to exist, and their work is driven by a passion for reimagining Oblivion in a new way. The project has already been rewarding, even beyond the release, with plans for bug fixes and DLC.

This sentiment is echoed by the team, who believe both projects can coexist and players are the true winners.