"Remakes Key to Bethesda's Revival, Oblivion Shows"

By Azura, by Azura, by Azura – the rumors were true. Yesterday, Bethesda ignited the internet by unveiling Virtuos' remaster (or is it a remake?) of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The surprise shadow-drop during an 'Elder Scrolls Direct' sent shockwaves through the gaming community, quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. This moment of global excitement and celebration feels like a much-needed reprieve from the challenges Bethesda Game Studios has faced in recent years. From managing the fallout of Fallout 76's troubled launch to the lukewarm reception of their new sci-fi universe, Starfield, fans have been questioning whether Bethesda has lost its magic touch. With fierce competition from RPGs like Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and Obsidian's The Outer Worlds, both of which have been praised as spiritual successors to Elder Scrolls and Fallout, Bethesda needs to find its footing. While Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 are still years away, this re-release of Oblivion might be the first step in the right direction – albeit an unexpected one.

At its zenith, Bethesda Game Studios was a powerhouse in the RPG genre. In 2020, leaked Microsoft FTC documents revealed that Fallout 4 had sold 25 million units, with over 5 million units sold in its first week alone according to VGChartz. In 2023, Todd Howard announced that Skyrim had surpassed 60 million sales, though its numerous re-releases certainly contributed to this figure. In contrast, Starfield's sales estimates stand at just over three million units a year and a half post-launch. Even considering Game Pass subscribers and the absence of a PlayStation version, this must be a disappointment for Bethesda. While Starfield does have its fans, the community is significantly smaller than those of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, and even they have expressed dissatisfaction with the game's first expansion, Shattered Space.

This leaves Bethesda with a significant challenge. With The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 still years away, how can this once-iconic RPG developer rekindle its fanbase's enthusiasm? The answer may lie in revisiting its past.

Rumors of the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster surfaced in September 2023 when leaked Microsoft documents revealed several unannounced Bethesda titles, including a remaster of the 2006 classic. Further details emerged in January 2025 from a former Virtuos employee, sparking debates among fans about authenticity. Last week, the long-awaited announcement finally came (albeit prematurely), setting the internet ablaze. Google searches for 'The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion' surged by 713% in the last week, reaching over 6.4 million. Bethesda's reveal livestream peaked at over half a million viewers, and despite the leaks, more than 600,000 people tuned in to see the 19-year-old game re-revealed. The demand was so intense that websites like CDKeys crashed, while Fanatical and Green Man Gaming struggled to keep up. As of yesterday, Steam reported 125,000 concurrent players, with Oblivion firmly at the top of the best-seller list. The enthusiasm for this remaster burns as brightly as the flames of the Oblivion gates themselves.

The message from players is clear: if you (re)build it, they will come. What better way to keep fans engaged during these long development cycles than to invite them back to the mysterious isles of Morrowind or the post-apocalyptic landscapes of the East Coast? From a commercial perspective, this strategy makes perfect sense. While Bethesda's main team works on new projects, trusted partners like Virtuos can use existing blueprints to create remasters in shorter time frames. These remasters appeal to built-in audiences and introduce new generations to the rich worlds of Tamriel and the Fallout series.

Bethesda has already leveraged its catalogue effectively. During the first season of the Fallout TV show on Prime Video, Fallout 4 was discounted by up to 75%, accompanied by a next-gen update that included homages to the show. As a result, Fallout 4's sales in Europe surged by over 7,500%, despite being nearly a decade old.

Oblivion Remastered offers a visit to the past that looks like the future. Image credit: Bethesda / Virtuos

Looking back at Microsoft's leaked Bethesda roadmap, many noted a planned Fallout 3 remaster slated to follow Oblivion two years later. Although the original timelines have shifted (Oblivion was initially slated for fiscal year 2022), if the original gaps hold true, a Fallout 3 remake might be expected in 2026 – coincidentally aligning with the second season of the Fallout TV series. Given the first season's alignment with Fallout 4's vibe and aesthetic, could Bethesda be planning something even more ambitious for the New Vegas-focused second season? The shadow-drop of Oblivion suggests that a New Vegas Remastered trailer could be waiting at the end of Fallout Season 2's finale.

The message from players is clear: if you (re)build it, they will come. However, if there's one game in Bethesda's back catalogue that truly deserves a remake, it's The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Many fans have been clamoring for this, with some even remaking it using Skyrim's tools, as seen in projects like Skyblivion. Yet, Morrowind presents unique challenges. It straddles the transition between Bethesda's early and modern styles – it's built differently from what we now expect of an Elder Scrolls game. It's only partially voiced, relies heavily on text for storytelling, lacks quest markers, and has no combat physics. While Virtuos could overhaul some of Oblivion's systems, Morrowind is inherently a more complex beast. Remaking it is a delicate balance; modernize it too much, and you risk losing its original charm, but leave too many outdated elements, and it might feel as jarring as a skooma hangover.

When a studio becomes synonymous with a gaming genre, the challenge is to innovate while retaining its audience. Rockstar Games has kept Grand Theft Auto players engaged for over a decade through the ever-evolving world of GTA Online, funding the rumored hefty budget for GTA 6. Bethesda's strength lies in its expansive, richly detailed single-player worlds – something that Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 haven't quite replicated. The overwhelming response to Virtuos' Oblivion remaster demonstrates that gamers are eager to revisit Bethesda's past triumphs. However, not every remaster is guaranteed success – the response to Oblivion is a testament to careful planning and skilled execution. For Bethesda, reanimating its classic titles could be the key to reclaiming its throne in the modern RPG landscape.