Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Reveal Nears

Bethesda is reportedly preparing to announce a remake of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion within the next few weeks, with a launch expected to follow shortly thereafter.

NatetheHate, who previously revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement date, tweeted that the Oblivion remake will be unveiled either this month or next, a claim that VGC has verified.

The specific release timing isn't as clear. NatetheHate suggested it would likely arrive before June, while VGC indicated a possible launch as early as April.

In January, Mp1st covered information about an Oblivion remake that was seemingly accidentally disclosed by a former employee of the support studio Virtuos. Microsoft declined to comment when IGN reached out for details.

According to Mp1st, Virtuos has rebuilt Bethesda's beloved open-world RPG using Unreal Engine 5, pointing toward a substantial remake rather than a simple visual upgrade. The report also described potential gameplay updates, such as adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reaction, and the heads-up display (HUD).

As noted by Mp1st, the Blocking system was reportedly reworked with action and Soulslike games as inspiration, since the original was seen as repetitive and aggravating. The Sneak mechanic now allegedly uses highlighted icons along with revamped damage calculation. Depleting your Stamina bar supposedly triggers a knockdown less easily than before. The HUD has been redesigned to be more intuitive, while hit reactions have been added to make combat responses clearer. Archery was also modernized for both first- and third-person modes.

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Rumors of an Oblivion remaster first appeared in 2023, when documents from the FTC versus Microsoft trial regarding the Activision Blizzard acquisition revealed several unannounced Bethesda titles scheduled for future release. The document, drafted in July 2020 before Microsoft's March 2021 purchase of ZeniMax Media, included the following planned releases:

Fiscal Year 2022:

Oblivion RemasterIndiana Jones game

Fiscal Year 2023

Doom Year Zero and DLCProject KestrelProject Platinum

Fiscal Year 2024

The Elder Scrolls 6Project Kestrel: ExpansionLicensed IP GameFallout 3 RemasterGhostwire: Tokyo SequelDishonored 3DOOM Year Zero DLC

Of course, many of these titles ended up being postponed or canceled. Doom Year Zero is now titled Doom: The Dark Ages and launches in May. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle didn't arrive until December 2024. The Elder Scrolls 6 was nowhere near ready for a fiscal year 2024 release.

For now, however, we're focused on that Oblivion remaster. It's worth emphasizing that it was labeled a remaster in the Microsoft documentation. Perhaps the project's scope evolved and Bethesda decided on a full-scale remake. We'll know for sure when the company officially announces what has become one of the worst-kept secrets in gaming.

Additionally, which platforms will the Oblivion remake be released on? Microsoft is now fully committed to multiplatform publishing, and with the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, Oblivion could soon be available beyond just PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. If the Switch 2 launches around June, there’s a chance Oblivion will be part of its launch lineup.