Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer behind The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed that the recently released Oblivion Remastered by Bethesda and Virtuos is so transformative that the term "remaster" might not fully capture its scope. In a conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith marveled at the extensive effort that went into the original 2006 RPG, which made the comprehensive reimagining of the game all the more astonishing.

“I was expecting a simple texture update,” Nesmith admitted. “The complete overhaul they've announced, including redoing the animations, the animation system, implementing the Unreal Engine, altering the leveling system, and revamping the user interface, touches every aspect of the game.”

Although Bethesda kept Oblivion Remastered under wraps until its surprise launch, the community has largely been impressed with the myriad of changes. From minor visual enhancements to significant gameplay alterations, including a new sprint mechanic and changes to the leveling system, fans feel that Oblivion Remastered borders on being a remake. Nesmith echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the term "Oblivion 2.0" might be more fitting. “It’s a staggering amount of remastering,” he noted. “It almost needs its own word. I’m not sure ‘remaster’ actually does it justice.”

In an attempt to categorize the extensive update, Nesmith labeled it as “Oblivion 2.0.” As the fanbase celebrates the remastered version, Bethesda shared their perspective on the project's naming. In a social media statement, they emphasized their intention was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize it for both returning and new players, preserving the core experience. “We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” the statement read. “But there are also so many who have never played it. Our hope with this remaster is that no matter who you are, when you step out of the Imperial sewer – you feel like you’re experiencing it for the first time.”

Oblivion Remastered was shadow-dropped by Bethesda and is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can enjoy it at no additional cost. The modding community has responded enthusiastically to the surprise release, further reinvigorating the Elder Scrolls fanbase. For a deeper dive into what Oblivion Remastered offers, check out our comprehensive guide featuring an Interactive Map, detailed Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and Guild Quests, tips on Building the Perfect Character, and much more.