Foreign media outlet Insider Gaming has recently published an article compiling information about the remaster of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*. After years of speculation, all signs now point to the imminent arrival of this classic RPG's remastered edition. Below are the leaked details we know so far, including potential announcement and release dates.
Originally developed by Bethesda and 2K Games, *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* was released in 2006 as the fourth entry in the series and is often hailed as one of the greatest games ever made. However, its fame was nearly eclipsed by its successor, *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*, which is among the best-selling games ever and has seen multiple re-releases.
As fans eagerly anticipate *The Elder Scrolls VI*, reports suggest that Bethesda plans to rekindle interest in the series’ fourth installment with a remastered version of *Oblivion*.
Has “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered” Been Confirmed?
No, Bethesda has not officially confirmed "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" yet.
The initial rumors surfaced in 2022 during the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) investigation into Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. At that time, there were reports about a potential remaster or remake of Oblivion, with an expected release in the 2022 fiscal year.
After missing that initial date, the project re-emerged in December 2024 with rumors indicating that Virtuos is working on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered using Unreal Engine 5. Many believed it would be showcased during Xbox’s January livestream event, but no such announcement was made.
Despite the lack of an official announcement, speculation continues to grow.
Does "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered" have an official release date yet?
No, there is no official release date for "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" at the moment.
However, Giant Bomb journalist Jeff Grubb recently disclosed that he heard the game might be shadow dropped at any time this month.
A “shadow drop” means releasing a game immediately without any prior announcement or confirmed release date and without any promotional activities.
Releasing such a major game as a shadow drop would certainly be surprising. However, this wouldn’t be Bethesda’s first attempt at such a tactic: their former studio Tango Gameworks did a shadow drop for “Hi-Fi Rush” in January 2023.
Yet, this marketing strategy appeared to fall short. In April 2023, Grubb claimed that “Hi-Fi Rush” didn’t make the money it needed. Despite receiving positive reviews, the lack of promotion likely led to poor sales, forcing Tango Gameworks to shut down in May 2024.
Reportedly, this hasn’t deterred Bethesda from considering another shadow drop strategy.
What can we expect from “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered”?
Bethesda has a solid track record with successful remasters, so fans should feel optimistic about “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.”
In 2016, they released “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition,” which included all three DLC expansions and featured graphical upgrades. In 2017, they launched “Skyrim VR,” followed by the well-received “Skyrim Anniversary Edition” in 2021 that added extra Creation Club content.
Given this history, fans can reasonably expect “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered” to include both existing expansion packs along with significant visual improvements.