According to multiple sources and some leaked images, a remaster of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is rumored to be shadow dropped on April 21st and will be on Game Pass day one. I'm being extremely cautious and skeptical as nothing has been cemented and confirmed, but there's been a lot of discussion and data mining revolving it and per this reddit post, Xbox Support 'accidentally' leaked the release date.
https://www.reddit.com/r/XboxGamePass/comments/1k0r3b7/xbox_support_accidentally_leaks_oblivion_remaster/
Again, as this is all speculation, I'm looking at this cautiously and am extremely hopeful that it comes to fruition but there's really no way to know until we get to April 21st. If it is true however, you won't be seeing me around for a while as ill be spending all my free time playing it.
If this somehow turns out to be not true, it'd be a huge disappointment.
Clue me in here though - what is gained by 'shadowdropping' games (instead of properly announcing the release date and dropping trailers/interviews/sneak peeks/etc) beyond saving on the marketing budget and letting the internet rumor mill do the work for you?
Quote from: SGR on Apr 20, 2025, 05:43 PMIf this somehow turns out to be not true, it'd be a huge disappointment.
Clue me in here though - what is gained by 'shadowdropping' games (instead of properly announcing the release date and dropping trailers/interviews/sneak peeks/etc) beyond saving on the marketing budget and letting the internet rumor mill do the work for you?
The only thing I can think of is that because the remaster is not being done by Bethesda themselves, they may not want to build up expectation or maybe they simply don't have the budget to market it. That's what I've seen people saying anyway.
What's really interesting about it tho is Bethesda isn't really known to let rumors cook for this long and this one in particular has been going for several weeks. I would have thought either them or the company doing the remaster would've said something but the silence is what's making this all seem like a possibility.
Ill certainly be disappointed as well if it comes to not be true but it is fascinating to see how much detective work people are doing.
Quote from: Key on Apr 20, 2025, 05:56 PMThe only thing I can think of is that because the remaster is not being done by Bethesda themselves, they may not want to build up expectation or maybe they simply don't have the budget to market it. That's what I've seen people saying anyway.
What's really interesting about it tho is Bethesda isn't really known to let rumors cook for this long and this one in particular has been going for several weeks. I would have thought either them or the company doing the remaster would've said something but the silence is what's making this all seem like a possibility.
Ill certainly be disappointed as well if it comes to not be true but it is fascinating to see how much detective work people are doing.
That all makes sense to me as well. Here's hoping it happens and is done well.
My guess is that they're not going to completely redo the voice lines. It'll be rather humorous to see all those old Oblivion voice lines come out of the mouths of characters who've all been remastered and look modern. It'll be a humorous contrast to say the least. :laughing:
If they actually re-record all the voice lines, I'd be kinda shocked.
Quote from: SGR on Apr 20, 2025, 06:46 PMThat all makes sense to me as well. Here's hoping it happens and is done well.
My guess is that they're not going to completely redo the voice lines. It'll be rather humorous to see all those old Oblivion voice lines come out of the mouths of characters who've all been remastered and look modern. It'll be a humorous contrast to say the least. :laughing:
If they actually re-record all the voice lines, I'd be kinda shocked.
Honestly have always loved the old voice lines from old Bethesda games like Oblivion and Fallout 3 when it's only like...what 3 or 4 people doing lines for several hundred NPCs? There's a certain charm to it.
Quote from: Key on Apr 20, 2025, 07:05 PMHonestly have always loved the old voice lines from old Bethesda games like Oblivion and Fallout 3 when it's only like...what 3 or 4 people doing lines for several hundred NPCs? There's a certain charm to it.
The possibility of them remaking Fallout 3 was one of the first things I thought about with this. I'm more into Fallout than Elder Scrolls - I would be over the moon for a Fallout 3 remake.
Quote from: SGR on Apr 20, 2025, 10:55 PMThe possibility of them remaking Fallout 3 was one of the first things I thought about with this. I'm more into Fallout than Elder Scrolls - I would be over the moon for a Fallout 3 remake.
Fallout 3 is my favorite game of all time, or at least it's in the top 3 so I'm right there with ya
Quote from: Key on Apr 20, 2025, 11:37 PMFallout 3 is my favorite game of all time, or at least it's in the top 3 so I'm right there with ya
Fallout 3 was the first Bethesda game I ever played. That damn game blew my fuckin mind. It remains to this day, the only game I've ever sat on my ass playing from sunset to sunrise. It just captured my imagination. Could not put it down. :laughing:
Quote from: SGR on Apr 20, 2025, 11:53 PMFallout 3 was the first Bethesda game I ever played. That damn game blew my fuckin mind. It remains to this day, the only game I've ever sat on my ass playing from sunset to sunrise. It just captured my imagination. Could not put it down. :laughing:
Same dude. First Fallout and Bethesda game I ever played. I also really love DC and seeing it in ruins was just mindblowing.
Quote from: Key on Apr 21, 2025, 01:00 AMSame dude. First Fallout and Bethesda game I ever played. I also really love DC and seeing it in ruins was just mindblowing.
You ever been to DC in real life?
Quote from: SGR on Apr 21, 2025, 01:03 AMYou ever been to DC in real life?
Yep. Many years ago and still remains my favorite place in the country.
https://x.com/bethesda/status/1914341006188712023
Quote from: Key on Apr 21, 2025, 05:48 PMhttps://x.com/bethesda/status/1914341006188712023
You beat me to it!
(https://media4.giphy.com/media/maJfaPl0JNswFJvfoR/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b952crlj96mxodwz2d8ymouqwkyhnw280jx5qa5svg6k&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
I'm so excited. It's now been confirmed!
Quote from: Key on Apr 21, 2025, 05:58 PMI'm so excited. It's now been confirmed!
If they drop a trailer tomorrow that says the release date is anything but this week, I'm headed to Bethesda HQ.
(https://i.makeagif.com/media/12-12-2023/iPizTq.gif)
I'm making a prediction that they'll announce that it's available tomorrow during the presentation. Either that, or hopefully very soon after.
Honestly, the fact that it's confirmed is exciting me
(https://i.redd.it/3s7lsxlzp2we1.jpeg)
Boss: "What was that loud beep I just heard?"
Me: "Oh that was....that was just my hospital monitor! Gotta go now, those fluids won't drink themselves as they say!"
Today's the day! I'm hoping they shadow drop it during the reveal. Only a little bit longer until we find out if we'll be playing a remastered version of Oblivion today or very soon. I'm pushing for today.
Interesting thing I read yesterday is that some have said that these leaks were purposefully placed by Bethesda to build hype for the remaster. If that's true, I would put this up there as one of the best marketing campaigns I've ever seen. Build hype without big marketing costs? That's the perfect formula.
ITS OUT!!!
PRAISE BE! I'M PUMPED! I watched the livestream reveal and it looks like I'll have to eat crow about them re-doing the voice lines - the madmen seem to have actually done it. I was incredibly impressed - everything looks so damn good! Graphics and lighting are incredible, animations look crisp, combat looks chunkier and more satisfying - I was expecting it to look a little bit better than Skyrim Remastered HD, but this exceeded all my expectations.
The best part for me is that I never actually properly beat Oblivion or owned it. One of my friends had the game and I played it there many times - and at one point, I did rent it - but never did get around to buying it. And this was was nearly 20 years ago, so my memory of it isn't even good; much of this will be like a brand new experience for me.
Quote from: Key on Apr 22, 2025, 04:46 PMInteresting thing I read yesterday is that some have said that these leaks were purposefully placed by Bethesda to build hype for the remaster. If that's true, I would put this up there as one of the best marketing campaigns I've ever seen. Build hype without big marketing costs? That's the perfect formula.
This wouldn't surprise me at all, and it generates the hype naturally among the community. I think shadowdropping works better for single player games (because you don't need to worry about the netcode and online multiplayer functionality), specifically remakes of games (or perhaps new entries in franchises already established) players are already familiar with and love. Team Ninja did this a few months back with their UE5 remake of Ninja Gaiden 2 (which happens to be my all time favorite game), and I bought that shit as soon as it was shadowdropped.
One thing about shadowdropping that I don't like is that it seems treat physical editions as a bit of an afterthought. I still much prefer to buy my games physically, but with shadowdrops, physical editions, if they come out at all, seem to come months down the line. But one big pro about shadowdrops is that it seems to generate discussion and rumor mills that remind me of the pre-internet elementary school days - exchanging rumors you've heard, maybe from your older brother, or maybe something you read in the latest issue of Nintendo Power - and before you know it, you believe that Luigi might be playable in Mario 64 and there's a super secret way you can get Mew in Pokemon Red/Blue. That sort of organic excitement and curiosity that only comes from human-human interaction, and not from expensive marketing campaigns and google searches with info readily available that leave very little mystery to begin with.
Anyways, I'm super excited and have it downloading on my PS5 now - plan to play it after work. Can't wait to see my wife play it too (she loves Skyrim, never played Oblivion). I hope you enjoy it
@Key!
Yeah, 100% agreed. I really liked the idea of them sort of planting the leaks for people to discuss it as you said, it allows for organic discussion and honestly creates a lot of hype. And thankfully, it created a lot of hype and it all worked out. The stream this morning had half a million people tuning in which I don't think happens all that often. They showed the perfect amount of what they needed to, got the excitement going, and made it available to everyone on the same day. I would put this as possibly one of the more successful if not the most successful release Bethesda has had in a long time. I am so excited to get home and play it.
:laughing: Classic Bethesda gameplay is back.
I played about an hour when I got home. It's amazing! It's got the same charm as the original with a fresh coat of paint. Which i'm happy about. Performance can be a bit spotty but it's the first day so I think that'll be patched out. I'm really happy overall tho. Feels really good to jump back in to Oblivion this many years later. Still can't believe we got a remaster.
I've only played a little bit so far, but I've loved what I've played! I think my only issue, as a relic of my Skyrim experience, is I really miss seeing that 'cleared' on the map for a cave after I've swept it and got the loot. But man, the graphics are awesome and yet it still feels properly like the original.
I've been knee deep in Black Myth: Wu Kong for so long now, that I'm still majorly focused on that - trying to complete it before I fully invest and dive into Oblivion.
Quote from: SGR on Apr 25, 2025, 11:46 PMI've only played a little bit so far, but I've loved what I've played! I think my only issue, as a relic of my Skyrim experience, is I really miss seeing that 'cleared' on the map for a cave after I've swept it and got the loot. But man, the graphics are awesome and yet it still feels properly like the original.
I've been knee deep in Black Myth: Wu Kong for so long now, that I'm still majorly focused on that - trying to complete it before I fully invest and dive into Oblivion.
I've put about 10 hours and I gotta say it's one of the best remasters I've ever played. It doesn't take anything away from the original other than a fresh coat of paint. It still feels like the good ol' Oblivion which I was worried was going to be taken away but they really wanted to keep in what made Oblivion great. The clunky NPC movement and dialogue specifically are really great to see.
I just finished the quest line last night to get the vampire cure. I didn't want to be a vampire on my first playthrough as I just wanna experience the game. My next playthrough ill probably dabble into vampirism as I hear it can have really cool benefits.
So far, it's a nice fresh look of a game that was already perfect and I'm glad the people behind it knew that. Huge W to both Bethesda and Virtuos. Hope this means we'll get a Fallout 3 remaster. Can only wait and see!
Its actually wild how good this game is. It's one of those games that I wish I could play more when I'm not playing it i.e. when I'm at work etc. They really delivered something special here and every time I have played so far, I've had nothing but a great time. I'm excited every time I jump in. This game is a masterpiece created from a game that was already a masterpiece.