"Remakes Key for Bethesda's Recovery, Oblivion Shows"

By Azura, by Azura, by Azura – the rumors were true. Yesterday, Bethesda set the internet ablaze by finally unveiling Virtuos' remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. In an unexpected 'Elder Scrolls Direct', the surprise shadow-drop instantly drew in hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. This moment of global excitement feels like a much-needed respite amid the recent challenges Bethesda Game Studios has faced. From the years-long recovery effort following the rocky launch of Fallout 76 to the lukewarm reception of their new sci-fi venture, Starfield, fans have been questioning whether Bethesda has lost its touch. With fierce competition from the likes of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and Obsidian's The Outer Worlds series, both hailed as spiritual successors to Elder Scrolls and Fallout, the future of Bethesda's flagship series seems distant with Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 still years away. Yet, this re-release of Oblivion might be the beacon of hope Bethesda needs – albeit in an unexpected way.

At its zenith, Bethesda Game Studios was synonymous with RPG excellence. According to leaked Microsoft FTC documents in 2020, Fallout 4 had sold 25 million units by that point, with over 5 million sold in its first week alone as reported by VGChartz. In 2023, Todd Howard announced that Skyrim had surpassed 60 million sales, a figure likely bolstered by its numerous re-releases. In contrast, Starfield has only managed around three million units sold a year-and-a-half after its launch. While Game Pass subscribers and the absence of a PlayStation version might skew these figures, the numbers suggest a disappointing performance for Bethesda. Moreover, even Starfield's dedicated fanbase has expressed dissatisfaction with its first expansion, Shattered Space.

This situation poses a significant challenge for the developer. With The Elder Scrolls 6 still "years away" and Fallout 5 merely a distant rumor, how can Bethesda rekindle the magic that once captivated its fanbase? The answer may lie in revisiting their storied past.

Rumors of an Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster began circulating in September 2023, following the leak of Microsoft documents that hinted at several unannounced Bethesda projects, including a remaster of the 2006 classic set in Tamriel. The buzz continued until January 2025, when a former Virtuos employee revealed more details, sparking debates among fans about their legitimacy. The floodgates finally opened last week, causing a frenzy online – Google searches for 'The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion' surged by 713% to over 6.4 million in the past week. Bethesda's reveal livestream peaked at over half a million viewers. Despite the leaks, more than 600,000 people tuned in to see a 19-year-old game reborn. The demand was so intense that it crashed discount game key websites like CDKeys and slowed down Fanatical and Green Man Gaming. As of yesterday, Oblivion had 125,000 concurrent players on Steam and topped the best-seller list. The excitement for this remaster burns as brightly as the flames of the Oblivion gates.

The resounding message from players is clear: if you (re)build it, they will come. During the long wait for new titles, revisiting classics like Morrowind or the post-apocalyptic landscapes of Fallout could keep fans engaged. From a commercial perspective, this approach is a no-brainer. While Bethesda's main team works on future projects, partners like Virtuos can leverage existing blueprints to create remasters more quickly. These remasters tap into an established audience and introduce a new generation to the rich worlds of Tamriel and the Fallout universe.

Bethesda has successfully leveraged its catalog before. During the first season of the Fallout TV show on Prime Video, Fallout 4 was discounted by up to 75%, and a next-gen update was released, featuring homages to the show. This strategy led to a staggering 7,500% increase in Fallout 4 sales 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 at Microsoft's leaked Bethesda roadmap, a Fallout 3 remaster is slated to follow Oblivion in two years. While timelines have shifted – Oblivion was originally planned for fiscal year 2022 – if the original intervals hold, we might see a Fallout 3 remake in 2026, aligning with the second season of the Fallout TV series, which is set in New Vegas. Given the synergy between the first season of the show and Fallout 4, it's conceivable that Bethesda might be planning a surprise New Vegas remake to coincide with the new season.

The message from players is clear: if you (re)build it, they will come. However, if there's one game in Bethesda's catalog that truly deserves a remake, it's The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Fans have long clamored for a Morrowind remake, with some even using Skyrim's tools to create Skyblivion. Yet, Morrowind poses unique challenges. It straddles the line between Bethesda's past and present, with its partially voiced narrative, text-heavy storytelling, absence of quest markers, and simplistic combat mechanics. While Virtuos managed to enhance Oblivion's systems, Morrowind is inherently more complex. Remaking it requires a delicate balance to preserve its original charm without alienating modern gamers.

When a studio becomes synonymous with a genre, the challenge is to innovate while retaining its audience. Rockstar Games has kept Grand Theft Auto fans engaged through GTA Online, funding the rumored hefty budget 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 overwhelming response to the Oblivion remaster indicates that fans are eager to revisit Bethesda's past glories. While not every remaster guarantees success – as seen with Rockstar's GTA Definitive Editions – a carefully crafted remaster like Oblivion can reignite the passion of the former king of modern RPGs.