"Oblivion Remastered Surges on Steam, Set for Expansion"

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered made a stunning debut on Steam, achieving a peak concurrent player count of over 180,000 on its release day. This impressive launch occurred on April 22, when Bethesda surprised fans with a shadow-drop of the game, propelling it to the top of Steam's global top-selling games list by revenue. Oblivion Remastered outshone other popular titles such as Valve's Counter-Strike 2, the viral sensation Schedule I, and Blizzard's Overwatch 2, which had just received a major update.

On the same day, Oblivion Remastered secured the fourth spot among the most-played games on Steam, trailing only behind Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, and Dota 2. It also became the most-played single-player RPG on the platform, surpassing the popular Baldur’s Gate 3, and garnering a 'very positive' user review rating.

While Steam statistics offer a glimpse into the game's success, they only tell part of the story. As a Microsoft-owned title, with Microsoft owning Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax Media, Oblivion Remastered was immediately available on Xbox Game Pass for Ultimate subscribers. This likely boosted player numbers significantly beyond the reported 180,000 on Steam. Additionally, the game's release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S further contributes to its overall player base, though exact numbers from these platforms are not publicly disclosed.

Although Bethesda has yet to release total player or sales figures, the game's performance indicates a strong start, with expectations of even higher player numbers as it enters its first weekend on the market.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots

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Developed by the remake specialists at Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, Oblivion Remastered boasts a host of visual and feature enhancements. It supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, but the updates go beyond just graphics. Enhancements include revamped leveling systems, character creation, combat animations, and in-game menus. New dialogue, an improved third-person view, and advanced lip sync technology have been added, leading some fans to argue that it might be better described as a remake. Bethesda, however, has clarified their choice to label it as a remaster.

Originally released in 2006 as a successor to the beloved Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was available on PC and Xbox 360, with a PlayStation 3 version following in 2007. Set in the fictional province of Cyrodiil, the game follows the player's quest to thwart a fanatical cult intent on opening portals to the demonic realm of Oblivion.

For those diving into the remastered experience, we offer an extensive guide covering everything from an interactive map to complete walkthroughs of the main questline and guild quests, tips on building the perfect character, and suggestions for what to do first in the game.