"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 awe at the work done on Bethesda and Virtuos' Oblivion Remastered. In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith shared his thoughts on the remaster, which was both announced and released unexpectedly. He highlighted the immense effort put into revitalizing every aspect of Cyrodiil, suggesting that the term "remaster" might not fully encapsulate the scope of the project.

Nesmith initially anticipated a simple texture update but was taken aback by the comprehensive nature of the overhaul. He noted, "I was assuming this was going to be a texture update. I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be... I would not have batted an eye at that. But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game."

Despite Bethesda's silence on the project until its surprise launch, fans have been overwhelmingly positive about the extensive changes. These range from visual enhancements to significant gameplay modifications, including a new sprint mechanic and an updated leveling system. Many, including Nesmith, feel that Oblivion Remastered leans more toward a remake than a mere remaster. Nesmith even suggested it could be considered "Oblivion 2.0," a term that reflects the extensive nature of the updates.

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

As the gaming community celebrates the release of Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda released a statement explaining their approach to the project. They emphasized their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to enhance the original experience for both returning players and newcomers. The statement read, "We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil. 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 shadow-dropped yesterday and is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can access it at no additional cost. The modding community has also responded positively to the surprise release, contributing to the reinvigoration of the Elder Scrolls community. For a deeper dive into the remastered experience, our comprehensive guide covers everything from an Interactive Map to detailed Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and Guild Quests, tips on building the perfect character, and much more.