Rumors of a potential Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake, slated for a 2025 release, have surfaced online, accompanied by a purported leak of details.
Gaming news outlet Mp1st reported that a former employee of Virtuos, a video game support studio, inadvertently disclosed information about the unannounced title. Microsoft declined to comment when questioned by IGN.
According to Mp1st's report, Virtuos utilized Unreal Engine 5 to reconstruct Bethesda's acclaimed open-world RPG, suggesting a substantial overhaul rather than a simple remaster. The leak allegedly detailed gameplay modifications, including adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reactions, and the HUD.
Mp1st claims that the Blocking system was redesigned with action and Soulslike games in mind, addressing criticisms of the original's "boring" and "frustrating" mechanics. Sneak icons are reportedly enhanced, damage calculations revised, and the Stamina depletion knockdown made more difficult to trigger. The HUD underwent a redesign for improved clarity. Hit reactions were added for better feedback, and Archery mechanics were allegedly modernized for both first and third-person perspectives.
Hints of an Oblivion remaster emerged in 2023 during the FTC vs. Microsoft trial concerning the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Documents revealed several unannounced Bethesda games, including an Oblivion Remaster, scheduled for release in subsequent years (July 2020 list, pre-Microsoft acquisition of ZeniMax Media in March 2021). This list also included titles like Indiana Jones, Doom Year Zero, The Elder Scrolls VI, and others, many of which experienced delays or cancellation. Doom Year Zero is now Doom: The Dark Ages, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launched in December 2024. The Elder Scrolls VI is far from its projected release window.
The discrepancy between the leaked "remake" and the original document's "remaster" designation is noteworthy. The project's scope may have expanded during development. Bethesda's official announcement will clarify this.
Platform speculation abounds. Given Microsoft's current multiplatform strategy and the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, the Oblivion remake could launch on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and potentially the Switch 2.
Leakers suggest a June release date, potentially coinciding with the rumored Switch 2 unveiling.
Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Developer Direct will feature id Software showcasing Doom: The Dark Ages. While a new game from an undisclosed Japanese developer is also teased, it's unlikely to be Oblivion. Windows Central's Jez Corden describes it as a "new entry in a legendary Japanese IP with decades of history."
