Exciting news for fans of the Elder Scrolls series: Bethesda is reportedly gearing up to unveil a remake of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion in the coming weeks, with a release expected shortly thereafter. The leaker NatetheHate, known for accurately predicting the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, shared on Twitter that the announcement could happen this month or next month, a claim that has been backed by VGC. While the exact release date remains uncertain, NatetheHate suggests it might be before June, with VGC hinting at a potential launch as early as April.

In January, Mp1st reported on inadvertently leaked details about the Oblivion remake from a former employee at Virtuos, a video game support studio. Microsoft, when approached by IGN for comments, chose not to respond. According to Mp1st, Virtuos is remaking Bethesda's beloved open-world RPG using Unreal Engine 5, indicating a substantial overhaul rather than a simple remaster. The leak also mentioned changes to gameplay mechanics, including adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reaction, and the user interface's heads-up display (HUD).

The changes to Blocking were inspired by action games and Soulslikes, addressing the original's "boring" and "frustrating" system. Sneak icons are now more visible, with a revamped damage calculation system. The effect of Stamina depletion leading to a knockdown is reportedly more challenging to achieve, and the HUD has been redesigned for clarity. Additionally, new hit reactions have been implemented to enhance responsiveness, and the Archery system has been updated for both first and third-person views.

Rumors of an Oblivion remaster first surfaced in 2023, following the leak of documents from the Federal Trade Commission versus Microsoft trial over the Activision Blizzard acquisition. These documents, prepared in July 2020 before Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media in March 2021, listed several unannounced Bethesda titles planned for release in the coming years. Among these were an Oblivion Remaster slated for financial year 2022, an Indiana Jones game, and several other projects, many of which have been delayed or canceled. Notably, the document referred to the project as a "remaster," suggesting that its scope might have expanded to a full remake.

As for the platforms on which the Oblivion remake will launch, Microsoft's current strategy favors multiplatform releases. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, the remake might extend beyond PC, Xbox, and PlayStation to include the new console. If the Switch 2 launches around June, there's a possibility that Oblivion could be part of its launch lineup.

Every IGN Elder Scrolls Review

27 Images