The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Details Reportedly Leak Online

Rumors of a potential Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake, slated for a 2025 release, have surfaced online, fueled by a purported leak of development details.

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

According to Mp1st's report, Virtuos utilized Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild Bethesda's acclaimed open-world RPG, suggesting a comprehensive remake rather than a simple remaster. The leak allegedly detailed gameplay modifications, including adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reactions, and the HUD.

Mp1st claims the Blocking system was redesigned, drawing inspiration from action and Soulslike games, addressing criticisms of the original's perceived "boring" and "frustrating" mechanics. Sneak icons are reportedly enhanced for better visibility, damage calculations have been overhauled, and the Stamina-depletion knockdown effect is supposedly more difficult to trigger. The HUD has undergone a redesign for improved clarity, hit reactions have been added for more responsive feedback, and Archery mechanics have been modernized for both first-person 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 a list of unannounced Bethesda games, compiled in July 2020, including an Oblivion remaster. However, many titles on that list faced delays or cancellation. The original document referred to the project as a remaster, raising the possibility that the project's scope expanded into a full remake.

The platform lineup for the alleged Oblivion remake remains unconfirmed. Given Microsoft's current multiplatform strategy and the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of a Switch 2 release alongside PC, Xbox, and PlayStation versions exists.

Industry leaker NateTheHate, who recently predicted the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal date, claims the Oblivion remake is set for a June release, potentially coinciding with the Switch 2 launch window.

Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Developer Direct next week will feature id Software showcasing Doom: The Dark Ages. While Microsoft has teased a new game from an undisclosed Japanese developer, it's unlikely to be Oblivion. Windows Central's Jez Corden described the mystery game as a new entry in a long-standing Japanese franchise.