Rumors of a potential Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake, slated for a 2025 release, have surfaced online, fueled by a purported leak of development details.
Gaming news outlet Mp1st reported that a former employee of Virtuos, a video game support studio, inadvertently revealed information about the unannounced project. Microsoft declined to comment when questioned by IGN.
According to Mp1st's report, Virtuos utilized Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild Bethesda's acclaimed open-world RPG, suggesting a substantial overhaul rather than a simple remaster. The leak allegedly detailed gameplay modifications, including adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reactions, and the HUD.
Mp1st claims the Blocking system was redesigned with action and Soulslike games in mind, addressing criticisms of the original's "boring" and "frustrating" mechanics. Sneak icons reportedly received enhancements, damage calculations were revised, and the Stamina depletion knockdown effect was made less frequent. The HUD underwent a redesign for improved clarity, hit reactions were added for better feedback, and Archery mechanics were modernized for both first and third-person perspectives.
Hints of an Oblivion remaster emerged in 2023 during the FTC vs. Microsoft trial concerning the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Documents revealed a list of unannounced Bethesda titles, compiled in July 2020, including an Oblivion Remaster scheduled for fiscal year 2022. This list, however, also included titles subsequently delayed, canceled, or significantly altered (e.g., Doom Year Zero becoming Doom: The Dark Ages). The discrepancy between the original "remaster" designation and the rumored extensive remake suggests a possible shift in the project's scope.
The platform lineup for the potential Oblivion remake remains uncertain. Given Microsoft's current multi-platform release strategy and the anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the game could potentially release on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Leaker NateTheHate, known for accurate predictions, suggested a June release date for the Oblivion remake, potentially coinciding with the rumored Switch 2 reveal.
Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Developer Direct next week will feature id Software's presentation on Doom: The Dark Ages. While Microsoft has teased a new game from an undisclosed developer, it's unlikely to be Oblivion, with Windows Central's Jez Corden hinting at a new entry in a long-standing Japanese franchise.
