"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 by Bethesda and Virtuos on the Oblivion Remastered. In a recent discussion with VideoGamer, Nesmith conveyed that the term "remaster" might not fully encapsulate the extent of the changes made to the game. He highlighted the immense effort, describing it as "blood, sweat, and tears," that was invested in reimagining every aspect of Cyrodiil.

Nesmith initially anticipated a simple texture update but was taken aback by the comprehensive overhaul. "I was assuming this was going to be a texture update," he said. "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 no prior official announcement from Bethesda, the release of Oblivion Remastered has left fans impressed with its range of updates, from minor visual enhancements to significant gameplay modifications. Features like a new sprint mechanic and alterations to the leveling system have led many to consider it more of a remake than a remaster, a sentiment echoed by Nesmith himself. He suggested that the project could be described as "Oblivion 2.0," indicating the extensive nature of the rework. "That’s a staggering amount of remastering," he added. "It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice."

In further comments, Nesmith attempted to categorize the remaster, stating, "The closest that could come [to categorising it] is Oblivion 2.0."

As the gaming community celebrates the remastered version, Bethesda provided insight into their naming decision for the RPG re-release in a social media statement. They emphasized that their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to preserve the beloved experience while updating it for a new audience. "We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil," the statement read. "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."

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was released unexpectedly yesterday and is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can access it without additional cost. The modding community's response to this surprise launch has been enthusiastic, further reinvigorating the Elder Scrolls community. For a detailed exploration of what Oblivion Remastered offers, our comprehensive guide covers 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.