Tamriel is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 very soon. Bethesda Softworks’ remaster of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is hitting the console on Aug. 11, news that hit alongside a self-referential trailer featuring the game’s infamous Adoring Fan NPC pestering the player wherever they go. It’s a very good bit.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered was released last year on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, reaching 9 million players within three months of release. As the game’s name suggests, it’s a remaster of Bethesda’s seminal 2006 RPG, overhauled with Unreal Engine 5 graphics and quality-of-life improvements. It was well-received by critics, in large part because it turns out that despite (or maybe because of) its hilariously stilted dialogue, Oblivion is still quite good.
At least based on the trailer, the remaster appears to be running reasonably well on the Switch 2, which is a bit surprising given that Digital Foundry dubbed the PC version “One of the worst-running games” they’d ever tested. Then again, Bethesda probably isn’t going to showcase technical problems in an advertisement.
While The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the Elder Scrolls game that fully broke through to wider audiences, selling 60 million copies to become one of the highest-selling titles of all time, Oblivion was essential for broadening the series’ appeal and making inroads with console players.
However, despite the success of both Elder Scrolls and Fallout, the situation at Bethesda’s parent company, Microsoft, remains quite dire. Xbox is currently preparing for a “reset,” which is rumored to involve potentially shutting down or selling off studios Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs in what may be one of the biggest layoffs in gaming history. The cuts are expected to affect more than just the studios being potentially shuttered, with Microsoft-owned Blizzard Entertainment, ZeniMax Media, and other Xbox divisions potentially being subject to percentage layoffs.
Despite Bethesda’s proven track record, the studio has been working on The Elder Scrolls 6 for quite some time, having announced it way back in 2018 (although full production didn’t begin until 2023 after Starfield shipped). Xbox CEO Asha Sharma specifically said she wants the next Elder Scrolls and Fallout games released as soon as possible. While it would be odd to reduce headcount at a studio that’s already struggling to put games out in a timely manner, it’s possible Microsoft plans to bolster the company with support studios or just force the team to reduce scope to get its next release out quicker. We don’t know exactly how the situation will pan out, but whatever happens, it probably won’t be good.
Bethesda will release The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 in three variations, which are detailed below. (Don’t worry, all versions include Horse Armor.)
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Standard Edition
- Digital base game
- Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions
- Additional downloadable content: Fighter’s Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery and the Horse Armor Pack
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition (Physical)
- Physical cartridge containing the full base game
- Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions
- Additional downloadable content: Fighter’s Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery and the Horse Armor Pack
- A code that grants access to Unique digital Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon Armors, Weapons and Horse Armor Sets
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition (Digital)
- Digital base game
- Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions
- Additional downloadable content: Fighter’s Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery and the Horse Armor Pack
- A code that grants access to Unique digital Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon Armors, Weapons and Horse Armor Sets
Oblivion Remastered has ruined me for Skyrim
Bigger isn’t always better
