The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Details Reportedly Leak Online

Rumors of an Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake, slated for a 2025 release, have surfaced online, accompanied by a purported leak of details.

Gaming news outlet Mp1st reported that a former employee of Virtuos, a video game support studio, inadvertently disclosed information about the unannounced title. Microsoft declined to comment when questioned by IGN.

According to Mp1st's report, Virtuos utilized Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild Bethesda's acclaimed open-world RPG, suggesting a substantial overhaul rather than a simple remaster. Allegedly leaked gameplay modifications include adjustments to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reactions, and the HUD.

Mp1st claims that the Blocking mechanic was redesigned with action and Soulslike games in mind, addressing criticisms of the original system's "boring" and "frustrating" nature. Sneak icons are reportedly now highlighted, damage calculations have been revised, and the Stamina depletion knockdown is supposedly harder to trigger. The HUD has undergone a redesign for improved clarity. Furthermore, hit reactions were added for enhanced feedback, and Archery mechanics have been modernized for both first-person and third-person perspectives.

Hints of an Oblivion remaster emerged in 2023 during the FTC vs. Microsoft trial concerning the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Documents revealed several unannounced Bethesda games planned for release, including an Oblivion remaster (listed as such in the document) in fiscal year 2022. This list, compiled in July 2020, also included titles like Indiana Jones, Doom Year Zero, The Elder Scrolls VI, and others. Many of these titles have since seen delays, cancellations, or name changes.

The discrepancy between the leaked remake and the originally documented remaster raises questions about the project's evolving scope. Bethesda may have expanded the project's ambition significantly.

Speculation abounds regarding platform availability. Given Microsoft's current multiplatform strategy and the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, the Oblivion remake could launch on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and potentially the Switch 2.

Leaker NateTheHate, recently known for reporting on the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal date, claims a June release for the Oblivion remake. This timeframe aligns with rumored Switch 2 launch windows, suggesting a possible simultaneous release.

Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Developer Direct, featuring id Software's reveal of Doom: The Dark Ages, is unlikely to include an Oblivion announcement. Microsoft has teased a new game from an undisclosed Japanese developer, hinting at a different title entirely. Windows Central's Jez Corden suggests this mystery game is a new installment in a long-standing Japanese franchise.