Summary
Bethesda’sThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimmay be one of the series' best games, but it’s hard to forgetThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. In light of that, it’s good to hear rumors that a remaster of the belovedOblivionis in the works. WhiletheOblivionremaster is indeed only rumoredto be happening, it would be a smart move for Bethesda to make, especially with the news thatThe Elder Scrolls 6is still at least a couple of years away.
If anOblivionremaster truly is in the works, it would be the perfect opportunity for Bethesda to showcase whatThe Elder Scrolls 6could be like, not only from a visual perspective, but from a gameplay perspective as well. Even thoughOblivionis now nearly two decades old, it may very well be the perfect time to receive an upgrade and pave the way for the next mainline installment to Bethesda’s immensely popular role-playing series.
How an Oblivion Remaster Could Be an Early Showcase for The Elder Scrolls 6
An Oblivion Remaster Could Utilize The Elder Scrolls 6’s Engine
The Elder Scrolls 6is almost guaranteed to be a visual masterpiece, considering the technological advancements that have been made since the release ofSkyrimin 2011. To ensure that happens, Bethesda is developing the next mainline installment in theElder Scrollsfranchise using its Creation Engine 2, the second iteration of the engine that was used to createSkyrim. The Creation Engine 2 was also used to buildStarfield, which displayed some incredibly striking visuals. As such, Creation Engine 2 could also be used to rebuild the rumoredOblivionremaster.
Oblivion’s original engine, Gamebryo, served as a basis forSkyrim’s Creation Engine, so portingOblivionto Creation Engine 2 isn’t entirely improbable. That being said, it would more than likely need a thoroughly extensive remaster to use an engine that is almost twenty years younger than Gamebryo. Due toOblivion’s glaringly obvious age, however, it wouldn’t make sense for Bethesda to only moderately upgrade its graphics anyway, so it would be more likely to use Creation Engine 2 to ensureThe Elder Scrolls 4can hold its own against modern competition. If anOblivionremaster was built using Creation Engine 2, it could give fans an early look atThe Elder Scrolls 6’s visuals.
An Oblivion Remaster Would Likely Need to Be More Than a Visual Makeover
Although the term “remaster” often chiefly indicates a visual makeover,Oblivion’s mechanics and quality of life are very datedat this point. Unless those features received an extensive overhaul in a remaster, it risks a poor reception by critics and fans. A shining example of that notion is the recentGargoyles Remastered, which didn’t bring anything to the table other than updated visuals and wound up garnering an overall negative reception.
AnOblivionremasterwould also need to be more than a visual makeover and include a host of quality-of-life improvements to keep up with the standards set by modern games and expectations. Any gameplay improvements and additions introduced in anOblivionremaster could thus serve as an early sign of what is to come inThe Elder Scrolls 6, especially in light of the fact that both games take place in the same universe and therefore essentially follow the same rules.
It’s currently unclear whatThe Elder Scrolls 6will bring to the franchise, as it is only in its early stages of development. However, if the rumors are true and Bethesda is planning to release a remaster ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, it could be a great way for the developer to marketThe Elder Scrolls 6ahead of time by providing players with a first look, so to speak, at the highly anticipated installment’s visuals and gameplay mechanics.
