The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is considered a classic game by many critics and gamers. The open-world RPG was a huge release during the seventh console generation and was met with near-universal acclaim. Oblivion was released just over 15 years ago and it's hailed as one of the best games in the Elder Scrolls series. The Elder Scrolls 6 is plausibly going to take a long time to develop, and Bethesda could have plenty of cause to remake Oblivion in the meantime. While it was acclaimed by gamers and critics alike, certain aspects could be improved to provide fans with a more definitive experience.
Oblivion continues to be a popular game even 15 years later. The modding community continues to support it with additional content to this day. As the modding community continues adding to Oblivion, it's clear that the fourth Elder Scrolls game still has quite an audience. Considering the enduring popularity of Oblivion and certain issues with the original release, Bethesda could have an opportunity to refine the experience. As influential as the game was, it wasn't without issues when it launched in 2006. With some time before The Elder Scrolls 6 is released, the Microsoft-owned developer could step through the gates of Oblivion again.
A Chance to Address the Original's Technical Issues
The original release of Oblivion wasn't considered perfect by a lot of fans and critics. While the game was highly rated, it did contain a host of bugs and other technical issues that could negatively impact a player's experience. Bethesda games have often shipped with various bugs, and Oblivion was no exception. Among issues with physics and character behavior, Oblivion save files could become corrupted. Bugs like these are sources of frustration for gamers, and a remake could address the issues that beset the original game.
Oblivion is an influential RPG, but the experience could be refined further in the new console generation. Like a lot of Bethesda games, Oblivion has several fanmade patches, which aim to improve the game's overall smoothness. Bethesda would need to look no further than these fan-created bug fixes to address issues with the original release. While a remake would generally suggest that a game is being made again from the ground up, using fanmade patches as an indicator of what issues to address could be a positive step. It arguably would be more important for these technical issues to be addressed before adding extra bells and whistles in the eyes of many gamers.
Oblivion Could Look Great with Modern Visuals
When it was originally released, Oblivion was widely considered to be an excellent-looking game. The lush forests of Cyrodiil and the hellish plane of Oblivion, in particular, were lauded for their visual quality. Compared to 15 years ago, Oblivion naturally doesn't hold up too well, and a remake with all the modern conventions could look great. On modern PCs and gaming consoles, Oblivion could look great, and that alone would be worth the price of a prospective remake for some fans.
It would be entirely possible that an Oblivion remake could use ray tracing, considering it's supported on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Expected improvements with textures, character models, and animations, could make the game stand out visually. Similar to how the modding community has handled some of Oblivion's nastiest bugs, Bethesda could look at what modders have done with the visual aspects of the game as well. The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion event could be considered a preview of what a visually improved Oblivion could look like.
Adding Cut Content
Many RPG games end up having cut content, which is often due to the sheer scope of some titles. Morrowind had some interesting content cut, and its successor, Oblivion, was the same. One of the most significant pieces of cut content for Oblivion was arenas. Originally, there was meant to be an arena in every city of Cyrodiil. The game managed to retain two arenas, with only one the Imperial City Arena remaining functional. A remake of Oblivion on modern systems could give Bethesda the scope needed to reintroduce content that didn't make it into the original game.
Other than arenas, Oblivion saw several quests removed, axed dialogue, and even whole characters cut. A remake could provide an opportunity to create a more fleshed-out version of Oblivion, complete with content that didn't make it into the original game. Moreover, Bethesda would also have an opportunity to bring something new to the fourth Elder Scrolls. The developer could have had grander plans for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and a remake could give it the platform to expand the game. With the addition of cut content and perhaps even fresh ideas, the worlds of Cyrodiil and Oblivion could be brought to life even more so than the original version.
A Way of Reintroducing Gamers to The Elder Scrolls
A remake of Oblivion could be a great way to reintroduce players to single-player Elder Scrolls adventures. The enduring popularity of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has been reported on for years, and fans still consistently play the epic RPG. While Skyrim is still very popular, it's nearly 10 years old now, and an Oblivion remake might whet the appetite of gamers looking forward to The Elder Scrolls 6. With modern graphics, gameplay updates, and release on modern consoles, a remake of Oblivion could be the perfect way to bring players back to single-player Elder Scrolls experiences without re-releasing Skyrim again, which is starting to age after 10 years in the spotlight.
Most fans and critics expect that The Elder Scrolls 6 is some time away from release. In the intervening time, Bethesda could find great success in remaking The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. The title is beloved by fans and it could present a great opportunity to address some of the issues from the original while also adding fresh content to the experience. Skyrim has sustained its popularity for nearly 10 years now and has become something of a cultural phenomenon. An Oblivion remake could refine the original experience while satisfying fans' desire for a new Elder Scrolls until the sixth entry is launched.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is available now.