The “walkout” moment is a staple of Bethesda Game Studios’ titles, and there are few that have stuck with me as much as emerging from the sewer-set tutorial of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. That makes it all the more incredible, 19 years later, to see it in thoroughly modern form in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – which arrives today.

I watch as a newly-built character loads into the wide open world of Cyrodiil (R.I.P. Emperor Septim) – they turn to see the landscape I know so well in new and improved form. Mist wreathes around the top of nearby mountains, seen again in distorted reflections on the wholly reworked water below. A sunrise cuts across the world, casting long shadows across gorgeous new foliage. Behind me, an even more imposing Imperial City stands proudly, blotting out the horizon behind it.

And then, we’re interrupted by an unscripted attack from a Mud Crab. It might look all-new, but this is Oblivion alright.

Oblivion Remastered – All the Updates

Oblivion Remastered comes to Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam and the Xbox App for Windows PC) and PlayStation 5. It’s also available day one with Game Pass and, with Xbox Play Anywhere, one purchase on an Xbox platform means you can play on Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and cloud with full cross-entitlements and cross-saves.

Designed in co-operation with the remaster specialists at Virtuos, Oblivion Remastered keeps the core of the original game intact (and includes the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions), but drapes it in an incredible new visual style, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Alongside 4K resolution, 60 frames per second performance, all-new textures, lighting effects, and landscape improvements, the game also updates everything from character, spell, and weapon animations, to dynamic time of day and weather effects.

It also adds new quality of life improvements to the original game, including:

• HUD, menu and map reworks
• Improved UI for systems like Persuasion, Clairvoyance, and more
• Modifications to levelling, encumbrance, non-combat perks, and other mechanics
• Improved enemy scaling
• Enhanced accessibility features
• Additional autosaves
• Revised first-person and third-person camera
• Much more

Seeing the game in action, the effect is immediate – this is the game millions have loved for almost two decades, in truly modern form. If you’re a longtime fan, everything you know and love is intact, and if you’ve never played, this is the perfect place to begin.

Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition

Available for purchase separately, or as an upgrade to the base game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition includes all of the above, and adds:

• Bonus quests
• Unique weapon sets
• Unique armor sets
• Unique horse armor sets
• Digital artbook
• Official soundtrack

I’m as excited as you are to say that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is out today – return to a true classic on Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam and the Xbox App for Windows PC), cloud, and PlayStation 5. It’s available day one with Game Pass, and is an Xbox Play Anywhere title.