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

Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer behind The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed awe at the scope of Bethesda and Virtuos' Oblivion Remastered, questioning whether the term "remaster" truly reflects the extent of the changes made. In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith shared his admiration for the dedication and effort poured into revitalizing every aspect of Cyrodiil, the game's world. He was initially expecting a simple texture update but was astounded by the comprehensive overhaul, which includes revamped animations, a new animation system, integration of the Unreal Engine, and modifications to the leveling system and user interface.

Despite Bethesda's lack of prior announcement, the sudden release of Oblivion Remastered has left fans impressed with its extensive modifications, ranging from visual enhancements to core gameplay adjustments. New features such as a sprint mechanic and changes to the leveling system have led many to consider it more of a remake than a remaster, a sentiment echoed by Nesmith. He suggested that the project might be better described as "Oblivion 2.0," emphasizing the monumental effort put into it.

In an attempt to define the project, Nesmith remarked, "The closest that could come [to categorizing it] is Oblivion 2.0." He further elaborated on the scale of the remastering, stating, "That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice."

As the gaming community celebrates the work behind Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda provided insight into their naming choice. In a social media statement, the studio clarified that they aimed to preserve the original experience while modernizing it for new players, warts and all. They expressed gratitude for the support from their fans and hoped that both returning players and newcomers would feel the thrill of stepping out of the Imperial sewer for the first time.

"We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil," Bethesda's statement 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."

Oblivion Remastered was unexpectedly revealed and released as a shadow drop by Bethesda. It's now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers enjoying it at no additional cost. The modding community has also responded enthusiastically to this surprise launch. For a deeper dive into what Oblivion Remastered offers, check out our comprehensive guide, which 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.