"Oblivion Designer Praises Bethesda's Remaster as 'Oblivion 2.0'"

Bruce Nesmith, a senior game designer of the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at Bethesda and Virtuos' work on the newly released Oblivion Remastered. In a conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith highlighted the immense effort and dedication that went into recreating the world of Cyrodiil, emphasizing that the remaster goes far beyond mere texture updates.

"I was assuming this was going to be a texture update," Nesmith admitted. "I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be... I would not have batted an eye at that. But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game."

Although Bethesda kept the project under wraps until its surprise release, fans have been overwhelmingly impressed with the extensive modifications. These range from superficial visual enhancements to significant gameplay adjustments. Features like a new sprint mechanic and alterations to the leveling system have led many, including Nesmith, to view Oblivion Remastered as more of a remake than a remaster.

"The closest that could come [to categorising it] is Oblivion 2.0," Nesmith remarked. "That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice."

In his discussion, Nesmith tried to encapsulate his impressions of Oblivion Remastered, suggesting that it could be considered "Oblivion 2.0."

As the gaming community celebrates the remaster, Bethesda provided insight into their naming decision in a statement on social media. They clarified that their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize it while preserving the core experience fans cherish, flaws included.

"We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil," the statement read. "But there are also so many who have never played it. We can’t thank you enough for all the support you have given us and our games over the years. Our hope with this remaster is, that no matter who you are, when you step out of the Imperial sewer – you feel like you’re experiencing it for the first time."

Oblivion Remastered was unveiled and launched yesterday through a shadow drop by Bethesda. Players can now explore the revamped Cyrodiil on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can enjoy it at no additional cost. For more on the impact of Oblivion Remastered on the Elder Scrolls community, check out the reactions from the modding community to this unexpected release.

Our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more to enhance your gaming experience.