"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 conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith stated that the term "remaster" might not fully capture the extent of the changes made to the game. He highlighted the immense effort that went into the original 2006 RPG and was surprised to see the game reimagined in almost every aspect.

"I was expecting just a texture update," Nesmith remarked. "But what they've done goes far beyond that. They've completely overhauled the animations, the animation system, integrated the Unreal Engine, revamped the leveling system, and redesigned the user interface. They've touched every part of the game."

Despite Bethesda's lack of official announcements prior to its release, fans have been overwhelmingly impressed by the myriad of changes in Oblivion Remastered. These range from minor visual enhancements to significant gameplay modifications. Features like a new sprint mechanic and alterations to the leveling system have led many to view Oblivion Remastered as more of a remake than a simple remaster, a sentiment echoed by Nesmith himself.

"It's such an extensive remastering that it almost requires a new term," Nesmith added. "Calling it a remaster doesn't quite do it justice. The closest we could come to labeling it is 'Oblivion 2.0'."

As the gaming community celebrates the efforts behind Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda shared insights into their naming decision in a social media statement. They clarified that their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize the beloved experience for both returning players and newcomers, preserving its essence, "warts and all."

"We're excited for our longtime fans to revisit Oblivion and Cyrodiil," the statement from Bethesda read. "And we're thrilled to introduce it to those who've never played before. Your support over the years means the world to us. Our aim with this remaster is to ensure that everyone stepping out of the Imperial sewer feels like they're experiencing it anew."

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was unveiled and released yesterday in a surprise move by Bethesda. It's now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and included at no extra cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The modding community has responded positively to this unexpected release, reinvigorating the Elder Scrolls community.

For a deeper dive into Oblivion Remastered, we offer a comprehensive guide covering everything from an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, and Things to Do First, among other resources.