"Oblivion Remastered Release: Original Dev Admits World-Scale Leveling Mistake"

The release of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* has sparked a significant conversation, especially after an original developer, Bruce Nesmith, admitted that the inclusion of the world-scale leveling system was a mistake. This revelation came to light during a recent interview with VideoGamer, where Nesmith, who also contributed to games like *Fallout 3*, *Skyrim*, and *Starfield*, discussed the changes made to the game's leveling system.

World-Scale Leveling Remains in Oblivion Remastered

Despite Nesmith's critique, the world-scale leveling feature, which adjusts enemy levels to match the player's, has been retained in the remaster. Nesmith expressed that this system can make players feel as though their progress is insignificant, stating, "I think the world levelling with you was a mistake and that’s proven out by the fact it did not happen the same way in Skyrim." Since the original release of *Oblivion* in 2006, this feature has been a point of contention among fans, prompting them to develop mods to alter it. With the remaster, fans have continued to create solutions to address the world-scale leveling system.

Nesmith also commented on the broader changes to the leveling system, which now more closely resembles that of *Skyrim*, where players earn XP across all skill lines. He praised Bethesda for these modifications, describing them as a "brave" move that enhances the game's playability for modern audiences.

Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster

The remaster of *Oblivion* goes beyond mere graphical enhancements, surprising even Nesmith, who initially expected updates akin to *Skyrim: Special Edition*. In another interview with VideoGamer, he expressed awe at the extent of the remastering effort, stating, "It’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 leveraged Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild the world of Tamriel, overcoming the limitations of the original game and earning widespread acclaim for the quality of the remaster. At Game8, we awarded *Oblivion Remastered* a score of 90 out of 100, celebrating its meticulous recreation of Cyrodiil with modern technology. For a deeper dive into our thoughts on the game, feel free to explore our detailed review below.