By Azura, by Azura, by Azura – the rumors were true. Yesterday, Bethesda ignited the internet with the long-awaited reveal of Virtuos' remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. In an unexpected 'Elder Scrolls Direct,' the game was shadow-dropped, instantly attracting hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. This moment of global excitement and celebration marks a significant turnaround for Bethesda Game Studios, which has been navigating turbulent waters in recent years. From managing the fallout of Fallout 76's rocky launch to the lukewarm reception of their new sci-fi universe, Starfield, fans have been questioning whether Bethesda has lost its touch. With the rise of competitors like Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and Obsidian's The Outer Worlds, which have been hailed as spiritual successors to Elder Scrolls and Fallout, the pressure is on. While Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 are still years away, this re-release of Oblivion could be a promising step forward, albeit not in the direction one might expect.
At its peak, Bethesda Game Studios was a powerhouse in the RPG genre. In 2020, leaked Microsoft FTC documents showed that Fallout 4 had sold 25 million units, with over 5 million sold in the first week alone, according to VGChartz. By 2023, Todd Howard announced that Skyrim had surpassed 60 million sales, bolstered by multiple re-releases. In contrast, Starfield, despite being available on Game Pass and lacking a PlayStation release, has only managed to sell around three million units a year and a half after launch. Even Starfield's dedicated fanbase has expressed disappointment with its first expansion, Shattered Space.
This situation presents a significant challenge for Bethesda. With The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 still distant dreams, how can this iconic RPG developer rekindle the magic for its fans? The answer may lie in revisiting its past glories.
Rumors about the Oblivion remaster surfaced in September 2023, fueled by leaked Microsoft documents that mentioned several unannounced Bethesda projects, including a remaster of the 2006 classic. The buzz grew in January 2025, when a former Virtuos employee leaked more details, sparking debate among Elder Scrolls fans. The excitement reached a fever pitch last week, with the reveal causing a 713% surge in Google searches for 'The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion' and over half a million viewers tuning into Bethesda's livestream. The demand for the remaster was so intense that it caused discount game key websites like CDKeys to crash, while slowing down others like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming. As of yesterday, the game boasted 125,000 concurrent players on Steam and secured the #1 spot as the best seller. The fervor for Oblivion among Bethesda fans is as intense as the flames that pour from the Oblivion gates.
The message from players is clear: if you (re)build it, they will come. To keep fans engaged during the long development cycles of new titles, Bethesda can invite them back to the enchanting worlds of Morrowind or the post-apocalyptic landscapes of the East Coast. Commercially, it's a smart move. While Bethesda's main team focuses on new projects, trusted partners like Virtuos can craft remasters of beloved classics in a shorter timeframe. These remasters appeal to established audiences and introduce new generations to the rich lore of Tamriel or the gripping narratives of Fallout.
Bethesda has already successfully leveraged its catalog. 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 nods to the show. This strategy resulted in a 7,500% sales increase in Europe, despite the game 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, it was noted that a Fallout 3 remaster was slated to follow Oblivion two years later. Although the timelines have shifted – Oblivion was initially planned for fiscal year 2022 – if the original gaps hold true, a Fallout 3 remake could be expected in 2026, coinciding with the second season of the Fallout TV show. Given the first season's alignment with Fallout 4's aesthetic, it's plausible that Bethesda might surprise fans with a New Vegas remaster to complement the show's shift to that setting in its second season. After shadow-dropping Oblivion, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that a New Vegas Remastered trailer could be waiting at the end of Fallout Season 2's finale.
The overwhelming response to the Oblivion remaster underscores that fans are eager to revisit Bethesda's historic worlds. However, not every remaster is guaranteed success – the reaction to this one is a testament to thoughtful development and careful execution. While remaking classics like Oblivion is a promising strategy, the challenge lies in balancing modernization with preserving the essence that made these games beloved in the first place. If there's one game in Bethesda's catalog that deserves a remake the most, it's The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Many fans have long advocated for this, with some even remaking it using Skyrim's tools, as seen in projects like Skyblivion. Yet, Morrowind poses unique challenges due to its distinct design, being partially voiced, relying heavily on text-based storytelling, lacking quest markers, and featuring simplistic combat physics. Remaking Morrowind is a delicate balance – modernize it too much, and you risk losing its original charm; leave too many old systems in place, and it might not resonate with today's gamers.
When a studio is synonymous with a gaming genre, the challenge is to innovate while retaining its audience. Rockstar Games has kept Grand Theft Auto fans engaged for over a decade with GTA Online, funding the massive budget rumored for GTA 6. Bethesda's strength lies in its richly detailed, single-player worlds, unlike the multiplayer-focused Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76. The enthusiastic response to the Oblivion remaster indicates that gamers are more than willing to dive back into Bethesda's storied past. While not every remaster will be a guaranteed hit, as evidenced by the mixed reception to Rockstar's GTA Definitive Editions, breathing new life into old classics could be the key for Bethesda to reclaim its throne in the modern RPG landscape.
