The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivionremains one of the best games in the series and one of Bethesda’s greatest RPGs. It is an engrossing experience thanks to a compelling narrative, great worldbuilding, and enjoyable progression. However, like a lot of RPGs from the early 2000s, it is very much stuck in the past, lacking a lot of the innovations the genre has undergone over the past few years. As a result, returning toOblivioncan often feel like a bit of a chore, especially for those who never played it as a child, or at least when it came out.
Fortunately, a short while ago,rumors of anOblivionremakebeing developed by Virtuos, a team best known for supporting other studios and developing the upcomingMetal Gear Solid 3remake, began circulating the internet. Most of these rumors were fairly credible, and since then, they’ve not stopped. However, the latest, which comes from a reputable source, claims that theOblivionremake is coming out very soon, despite it still not officially existing, and that could be a problem.
The Rumored Oblivion Remake Is Apparently Coming In April
It Will Be Shadow Dropped
Originally, it was rumored that theOblivionremake would drop in June 2025. However, according to prominent leakerNate the Hate,theElder Scrolls IV: Oblivionremake is now set to be announced in April with it releasing seemingly immediately afterward, or at least a short while later. Essentially, Nate the Hate is claiming that the Oblivion remake will be shadow-dropped, a tactic that has proved somewhat successful for other games, including the critically acclaimed indie masterpiece,Hi-Fi Rush. This is quite surprising, especially considering the high-profile nature of Bethesda’s games, and thehuge surrounding theOblivionremake.
Of course, like with all rumors, this should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, there has been absolutely no official confirmation of anElder Scrolls IV: Oblivionremake anywhere. Nevertheless, considering just how compelling the evidence of its existence is, coupled with Nate the Hate’s pretty strong track record and past reliable information, it would seem that this is a likely outcome. However,this seems like an incredibly risky move, especially as not only is April already a stacked month for video games, butOblivionis a far lesser-known quantity than some may believe.
April Is A Very Busy Month For Games
Expedition 33, South Of Midnight, And More Are Releasing
There are a lot of games releasing in April, including the hotly-anticipated Xbox-produced,South of Midnight,and the day-one Game Pass release,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While these are the two biggest games, at the very leastExpedition 33is a direct competitor to an Oblivion remakeas it is one of themost anticipated RPGs of 2025. They have had a significant amount of promotion, including from Xbox, as both appeared during its Developer Direct. Of course, not everyone will pick these up, andSouth of Midnightwill be a relatively short game.
Rumored Oblivion Remake Could Be Ruined By What Should Be A Minor Change
Although not officially revealed, I’m excited for the Oblivion remake, but one minor change could have a huge effect on the game’s atmosphere.
However, that isn’t taking into consideration thegames releasing in March, includingAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandAtomfall, both of which are releasing at the tail end of the month. People are still playingMonster Hunter Wildsand likely will be well into April, and there are also several lower-profile games releasing throughout April. While this is the case every month, the key difference here is that anElder Scrolls IV: Oblivionremake has had absolutely no marketing. People have been getting ready to buy these aforementioned games for a while, sono one will have budgeted for anOblivionremake.
Bethesda Should Hype Up The Oblivion Remake
It Needs To Take The Time To Introduce It To New Fans
While shadow-dropping a game can work with certain titles, especially cheaper indies likeHi-Fi Rush, it seems like a bad option for a remake of an old game. Of course, there is brand recognition already, which will do some of the heavy lifting, butplayers will want to know how this remake differs from the original, see gameplay showcasing all the new features, learn about any potential new story details, and generally get hyped for it. This is how Monolith Soft approached its remasters - which were essentially remakes - of bothXenoblade ChroniclesandXenoblade Chronicles X.
By releasing immediately after the announcement, players won’t have enough information to pick it up on a whim, especially as a remake can often change aspects of a game that players liked.The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivionis also nearly 20 years old, which means a lot of people likely haven’t played or even have an affinity forOblivion. They need to know why they’re buying a remake of such an old RPG and not the newer ones releasing right now, and a long marketing campaign can help with that.
Rumored Oblivion Remake Is Already A Mistake - There’s A Much Better Option I Couldn’t Be More Excited For
Bethesda is rumored to be making an official remake of Oblivion, but fans have beaten the developer to it and could even eclipse it.
It isn’t clear why Xbox and Bethesda feel it best to shadow-drop theElder Scrolls IV: Oblivionremake if that is what they are doing. It could be tobeat the fan-madeOblivionremakeor because they don’t have faith in it, and investing heavily in a marketing campaign would be a waste of money. Of course, that is pure speculation, but worth discussing nonetheless. Regardless, shadow-droppingThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivionin April is a mistake, and one that could cost the game a lot if the audience isn’t as invested in it as Bethesda may be hoping.
