In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glory of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. To keep fans engaged in the world of Cyrodiil, the company began rolling out small paid DLC packages. However, Bethesda stirred up controversy with the release of its first DLC that April: horse armor. Even if you weren't into gaming back then, you might have heard about the horse armor controversy. Although DLC existed before this, the Horse Armor Pack for Oblivion, priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the 360 Marketplace (around $2.50 at the time), sparked significant debate due to its perceived lack of utility.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like these are now standard fare, allowing Bethesda to cheekily include horse armor in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Today's surprise reveal and immediate launch of the remaster introduced both a base and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10 over the base game price, deluxe edition buyers receive new quests for unique armors, additional weapon choices, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, of course, two sets of horse armor.

For the most part, fans are taking this news in stride. We're nearly two decades removed from when cosmetic DLC like horse armor was a novel and contentious concept. Today, gamers are accustomed to paying for purely cosmetic enhancements. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," Piscatella remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.

Many find it amusing that Bethesda is now playfully referencing what was once a major scandal. Social media reactions reflect this sentiment:

PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0

— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025

Honestly I have to respect it. New players won't know this, but releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a subtle reference to when they singlehandedly ruined the industry by selling it the first time around. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX

— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025

£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr

— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025

Oblivion Remastered isn't just about horse armor; it's already attracting mods. Just hours after its launch, several community mods appeared on popular site Nexus Mods, though these are mostly minor customization options.

As we await more mods, you can delve into why some players believe today's release is more of a remake than a remaster and understand why Bethesda chose the "Remastered" label.

For a thorough overview, check out our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered. It 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.