Bethesda Gifts Skyblivion Team Oblivion Remastered Keys

The Elder Scrolls community is celebrating Bethesda today after the developer surprised the Skyblivion mod team with complimentary copies of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

In a BlueSky post, the Skyblivion team expressed their gratitude: "As lifelong fans, we're overwhelmed by Bethesda's generosity in gifting Oblivion Remastered keys to our entire modding crew! This gesture means the world to us. Heartfelt thanks to the Bethesda team!"

Skyblivion is an ambitious fan-led recreation of Oblivion being developed by the volunteer TESRenewal collective. Using Skyrim's Creation Engine, the project transforms Cyrodiil with enhanced visuals and gameplay mechanics. What began as a straightforward conversion over ten years ago has evolved into a comprehensive reimagining featuring quality-of-life improvements and original content. Our 2021 interview with developers provides deeper insight into this passion project, which is slated for release later this year.

Developer Relations Remain Strong

While Bethesda has maintained positive relations with the Skyblivion team, recent rumors about an official Oblivion remaster led some fans to speculate about potential competition between the projects. The Skyblivion team recently addressed these concerns, stating: "Bethesda has consistently supported community creations like ours. There's no rivalry between these projects - they offer different experiences."

Key differences distinguish the two versions: Oblivion Remastered launched without official mod support (though modders quickly began creating unofficial add-ons), while Skyblivion remains a PC-exclusive project. The fan remake incorporates custom content and design changes absent from the official remaster, though Bethesda's version includes the classic Horse Armor DLC for Deluxe Edition owners. Each offers distinct visual and gameplay approaches regarding how substantially to modernize Oblivion's original design.

While Oblivion Remastered is available now, Skyblivion enthusiasts must wait a bit longer. In the meantime, explore our analysis of why many consider the official release more remake than remaster and Bethesda's rationale behind the "Remastered" branding.

We've compiled an exhaustive Oblivion Remastered resource featuring an interactive map, complete walkthroughs for main quests and faction storylines, character-building strategies, essential starting tips, and much more.