Bruce Nesmith, a key figure in the creation of the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed his awe at the recently released Oblivion Remastered by Bethesda and Virtuos. In a conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith admitted that calling this project a mere "remaster" might not fully capture its scope and quality. He praised the immense effort, describing it as "blood, sweat, and tears" poured into revitalizing every aspect of Cyrodiil.

"I was expecting a simple texture update," Nesmith confessed. "But what they've done is a complete overhaul. They've redone the animations, revamped the animation system, integrated the Unreal Engine, altered the leveling system, and redesigned the user interface. They've touched every part of the game."

Despite no prior announcement from Bethesda, the sudden release of Oblivion Remastered has left fans amazed. The updates range from cosmetic enhancements to core gameplay modifications, including a new sprint mechanic and an updated leveling system. Many feel that this version transcends a traditional remaster and leans more towards a remake, a sentiment echoed by Nesmith himself.

"The closest categorization might be Oblivion 2.0," Nesmith remarked. "It's a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice."

In his discussion, Nesmith also labeled the project as potentially "Oblivion 2.0," reflecting on its extensive changes.

As the gaming community celebrates the release, Bethesda has shared its reasoning behind the naming of this RPG re-release. In a social media statement, the studio clarified that they "never wanted to remake" Oblivion but aimed to preserve the cherished experience while updating it for a new audience, warts and all.

"We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil," Bethesda's statement continued. "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 shadow-dropped by Bethesda yesterday and is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can access it at no additional cost. The modding community has also responded enthusiastically to the surprise release, further reinvigorating the Elder Scrolls community.

For those eager to dive in, we offer a comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, advice on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.