"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 remastered version developed by Bethesda and Virtuos. In a conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith shared his surprise at the extent of the changes, suggesting that the term "remaster" might not fully capture the essence of what has been achieved. He highlighted the immense effort put into revitalizing every aspect of Cyrodiil, from its landscapes to its intricate systems.

“I was assuming this was going to be a texture update,” Nesmith admitted. “But the overhaul they’ve announced goes far beyond that. They've completely redone the animations, revamped the animation system, integrated the Unreal Engine, and modified the leveling system and user interface. It’s a comprehensive transformation touching every part of the game.”

Although Bethesda did not officially announce The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered prior to its launch, the community has been overwhelmingly positive about the extensive updates, which range from visual enhancements to core gameplay modifications. New features such as a sprint mechanic and changes to the leveling system have led many, including Nesmith, to view it more as a remake than a simple remaster.

“The closest that could come [to categorising it] is Oblivion 2.0,” Nesmith remarked. “It’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”

In his discussion, Nesmith tried to encapsulate the essence of what he's seen from the remastered version, coining it as “Oblivion 2.0.”

As fans celebrate the dedication poured into The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda has shared its perspective on naming the RPG re-release. In a social media statement, the studio emphasized that it "never wanted to remake" Oblivion but aimed to preserve the beloved experience while modernizing it for new players, warts and all.

“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” the statement from Bethesda continued. “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 unexpectedly released yesterday as a shadow drop from Bethesda. It's now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and is included at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The modding community has responded enthusiastically to this surprise launch, further reinvigorating the Elder Scrolls community.

For those eager to dive in, we offer a comprehensive guide to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. This includes 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.