Bethesda Game Studios recently clarified why the Virtuos-developed "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered" is being called a "remaster" and not a "remake." The company issued a detailed statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, explaining why the title doesn't fit the traditional definition of a remake and emphasizing that a complete overhaul was never planned.
Bethesda revealed, "We never intended to remake it; rather, we wanted to remaster it to preserve the original game experience you remember, using current technology."
This statement clearly articulates their stance on revisiting the classic RPG, emphasizing that the remaster does not significantly alter the game's core content. Instead, it retains the original "Oblivion" style while upgrading visuals and audio with modern technology.
In fact, "Oblivion Remastered" introduces numerous visual enhancements and new gameplay mechanics. For instance, players can now sprint, and a new leveling system combines elements from both "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" and "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim."
Bethesda also made it clear that "Oblivion Remastered" would not excessively alter the game's core structure. They stressed, "We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it, but most of all, we never wanted to change the core experience of the game."
"We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit 'Oblivion' and the land of Cyrodiil. 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."
"The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered" is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and is playable via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.