Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster Dubbed 'Oblivion 2.0' by Designer

Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer behind the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at the newly released Oblivion Remastered by Bethesda and Virtuos. In a recent conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith shared his astonishment at the scope of the project, emphasizing that it transcends the typical definition of a remaster. He highlighted the immense effort, describing it as "blood, sweat, and tears," that went into revitalizing every aspect of Cyrodiil.

Nesmith initially anticipated a simple texture update, but was taken aback by the comprehensive overhaul. He remarked, “I was assuming this was going to be a texture update... I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be... I would not have batted an eye at that. But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game.”

Despite no prior official announcement from Bethesda, the launch of Oblivion Remastered has left fans impressed with both superficial enhancements and deep gameplay modifications. Features like the new sprint mechanic and alterations to the leveling system have led many, including Nesmith, to consider this less of a remaster and more of a remake. Nesmith suggested it might be better described as “Oblivion 2.0,” stating, “That’s a staggering amount of remastering... It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”

Bethesda has also shared its perspective on the naming of this RPG re-release, clarifying in a social media statement that their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize it while preserving the beloved experience for both returning players and newcomers. The studio expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from fans and hoped that everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the game, would feel like they were experiencing it anew upon stepping out of the Imperial sewer.

Oblivion Remastered was released unexpectedly as a shadow drop and is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can access it at no additional cost. The modding community has responded enthusiastically to the surprise launch, further enriching the reinvigorated Elder Scrolls experience. For those eager to dive in, a comprehensive guide is available, covering everything from an interactive map to complete walkthroughs of the main questline and guild quests, tips on character building, and more.