"Oblivion Designer Praises Bethesda's Remaster as 'Oblivion 2.0'"

Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer behind the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at the work done by Bethesda and Virtuos on the newly released Oblivion Remastered. In a conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith admitted that calling it a remaster might not fully capture the extent of the overhaul. He emphasized the immense effort that went into the original game, making the comprehensive reimagining of Cyrodiil even more surprising.

“I was assuming this was going to be a texture update,” Nesmith remarked. “I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced... I would not have batted an eye at that. But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, integrate the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, and revamp the user interface—that’s touching every part of the game.”

Despite no prior official announcement from Bethesda, the launch of Oblivion Remastered has left fans impressed with the myriad of changes, from visual enhancements to core gameplay modifications. New additions like a sprint mechanic and alterations to the leveling system have led many, including Nesmith, to view it as more of a remake than a remaster. He suggested that it could be considered “Oblivion 2.0,” highlighting the extensive nature of the update. “That’s a staggering amount of remastering,” he noted. “It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”

Nesmith further tried to encapsulate the essence of Oblivion Remastered: “The closest that could come [to categorising it] is Oblivion 2.0.”

As the gaming community celebrates the release, Bethesda shared their perspective on the naming of the RPG re-release via a social media statement. The studio clarified that their intention was never to create a full remake but to preserve the beloved experience of Oblivion while modernizing it for new players, flaws and all.

“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” Bethesda stated. “But there are also so many who have never played it. We can’t thank you enough for all the support you have given us and our games over the years. 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 was released as a surprise shadow drop, available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can enjoy it at no additional cost. The modding community has responded enthusiastically to this unexpected launch, further revitalizing the Elder Scrolls community.

For those eager to dive in, we offer a comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.