Summary
In a surprise twist that almost everyone saw coming due to countless rumors and leaks, Bethesda simultaneously revealed and releasedThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, which boasts a massive upgrade in its visuals and several gameplay improvements to boot. The upgradeOblivion Remasteredbrings to the almost twenty-year-old game is so extensive that it feels like a brand-new game, almost certainly drawing in plenty of newcomers and giving longtime fans a reason to spend another few hundred hours in Cyrodiil. Perhaps the only problem with this, however, is that it could have been anElder Scrolls 6updateinstead.
It has now been almost seven years since the first look atThe Elder Scrolls 6, so it’s likely that many fans have understandably become a bit impatient as they await another reveal. There was even some speculation that theOblivion Remasteredreveal might actually include a deeper look atThe Elder Scrolls 6, but that turned out not to be the case. Even so, regardless of how much timeElder Scrollsfans have already had to spend waiting for more info about the sixth entry,Oblivion Remasteredmight actually be more important right now for one major reason.
Oblivion Remastered Is Better Served Right Now Than TES6
Oblivion Remastered Proves Bethesda Still Values What Made Its RPGs Iconic
Despite the numerous rumors and leaks that suggestedThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredwould be a full remake, it is still technically only a remaster. There are some gameplay improvements — like an overhauled leveling system, an improved third-person mode, and the ability to sprint — but the gameplay by and large has only been improved rather than rebuilt. Even so, that ultimately means thatOblivion Remasteredis proof that Bethesda still values what made its RPGs iconic in the first place.
This is not to say thatOblivion Remasteredisn’t a vastly improved version of the original game, as it is. It’s only thatOblivion Remasteredforewent “remake” status to prioritize only what arguably needed improvement.
SinceOblivion Remasteredonly makes a few improvements to the original’s gameplay and the overhaul is more largely witnessed in its improved visuals built onUnreal Engine 5, it shows that Bethesda still understands the tone, systems, and jankiness that have defined its RPGs. The developer very well could have improved everything to make it feel even more modern than whatOblivion Remasteredhas accomplished, but it chose instead to let some of the original game’s quirks remain untouched, and that could be a very good sign forThe Elder Scrolls 6moving forward.
Oblivion Remastered May Be a Sign That TES6 Is Maintaining Bethesda’s Signature
By now, it has become a bit of a heartwarming and humorous signature ofBethesda for its gamesto have a little bit of jank here and there — and sometimes a lot. Countless memes and hilarious game clips have shown this quirkiness off in a way that pokes fun but also puts a warm smile on the faces of the developer’s longtime fans. ForThe Elder Scrolls 6to forego those quirks altogether and be the most polished game Bethesda has ever made, it might ruin what makes the developer’s titles so unique.
Oblivion Remasteredis proof that Bethesda still values what made its RPGs iconic in the first place.
By going back toOblivionwithOblivion Remastered, Bethesda is showing that it’s not ready to let go of its past just to move forward withThe Elder Scrolls 6. In other words, it’s a good sign that the next game in the series will maintain the magic of the series, even if that magic is found in occasional jank and hilarious bugs. More than that, however,Oblivion Remasteredshows Bethesda still values the same immersive energy of the original game that was arguablylost inStarfield, and it could be a signal that the next chapter inThe Elder Scrollsisn’t likely to abandon those roots for the sake of modern trends. Instead, it suggests thatThe Elder Scrolls 6may carry forward Bethesda’s true identity that has always set its games apart.
