The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Details Reportedly Leak Online

Rumors of an Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake, slated for a 2025 release, have surfaced online, with purported details leaked.

Gaming news outlet Mp1st reported that a former employee of Virtuos, a video game support studio, inadvertently disclosed information about the unannounced title. Microsoft declined to comment when questioned by IGN.

According to Mp1st, Virtuos utilized Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild Bethesda's acclaimed open-world RPG, suggesting a substantial overhaul rather than a simple remaster. Alleged gameplay modifications include adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, hit reactions, and the HUD.

Mp1st's report claims the Blocking system was redesigned, drawing inspiration from action and Soulslike games, addressing criticisms of its original "boring" and "frustrating" mechanics. Sneak icons are reportedly enhanced, damage calculations revised, and Stamina depletion-induced knockdowns made less frequent. The HUD has undergone a redesign for improved clarity. Hit reactions were added for more responsive feedback, and Archery mechanics were modernized for both first and third-person perspectives.

Hints of an Oblivion remaster emerged in 2023 during the FTC vs. Microsoft trial concerning the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Documents revealed several unannounced Bethesda games, including Oblivion, scheduled for release in subsequent years. This list, compiled in July 2020, predated Microsoft's March 2021 acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company. The list included titles with projected release years, many of which experienced delays or cancellations.

The Oblivion project, initially listed as a remaster, might have expanded in scope to become a full remake. The official unveiling of this project, now one of gaming's worst-kept secrets, is eagerly awaited.

Platform speculation is rife. Given Microsoft's current multi-platform strategy and the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Oblivion could launch on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and potentially the Switch 2.

Leakers suggest a June release date, coinciding with potential Switch 2 reveal timelines.

Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Developer Direct next week will feature id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages reveal, along with a surprise new game from an undisclosed Japanese developer, but it's unlikely to be Oblivion. Windows Central's Jez Corden hinted that the mystery game is a new installment in a long-standing Japanese franchise.