"Remakes Key to Bethesda's Revival, Oblivion Shows"

By Azura, by Azura, by Azura – the rumors were true. Yesterday, Bethesda set the internet ablaze by unveiling Virtuos' remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion during an unexpected 'Elder Scrolls Direct'. The shadow-drop sparked immediate excitement, drawing hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. This surge of enthusiasm feels like a beacon of hope for Bethesda Game Studios, which has faced challenges with recent releases like Fallout 76 and Starfield. With fierce competition from RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and The Outer Worlds, fans have been questioning whether Bethesda has lost its touch. While The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 remain distant dreams, this re-release of Oblivion might be a strategic move to recapture the studio's former glory.

At its zenith, Bethesda Game Studios dominated the RPG genre. According to Microsoft’s leaked FTC documents in 2020, Fallout 4 sold an impressive 25 million units, with over 5 million units sold in its first week alone, as reported by VGChartz. In 2023, Todd Howard announced that Skyrim had surpassed 60 million sales, bolstered by multiple re-releases. In contrast, Starfield's sales are estimated at just over three million units a year-and-a-half post-launch, which, despite Game Pass subscriptions and the absence of a PlayStation version, might be seen as underwhelming. Even Starfield's dedicated fanbase has expressed dissatisfaction with its first expansion, Shattered Space.

This situation poses a significant challenge for Bethesda. With The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 still years away, how can the studio rekindle its relationship with fans? The answer may lie in revisiting its past successes.

Rumors of an Oblivion remaster surfaced in September 2023 when leaked Microsoft documents hinted at several unannounced Bethesda titles, including a remaster of the 2006 classic. The buzz intensified in January 2025 after a former Virtuos employee leaked more details, igniting debates among fans. Last week, Bethesda's early reveal set the internet ablaze, with 'The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion' seeing over 6.4 million Google searches and a 713% increase in the last week. The reveal livestream peaked at over half a million viewers, and despite the leaks, over 600,000 tuned in. The demand caused discount game key websites like CDKeys to crash and slowed others like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming. As of yesterday, the game boasted 125,000 concurrent players on Steam and topped the best-seller list, demonstrating the fervent enthusiasm for this remaster.

The success of the Oblivion remaster highlights a clear message: if you (re)build it, they will come. Engaging fans with remasters during long development cycles is a smart strategy. It allows Bethesda's main team to focus on new projects while trusted partners like Virtuos leverage the nostalgia and built-in audience of classic games. These remasters not only bring back old fans but also introduce new players to the rich worlds of Tamriel and the post-apocalyptic landscapes of the Fallout series.

Bethesda has previously leveraged its catalog effectively. During the first season of the Fallout TV show on Prime Video, Fallout 4 was discounted by up to 75%, accompanied by a next-gen update that included homages from the show, resulting in a 7,500% sales surge in Europe despite the game's age.

Oblivion Remastered offers a visit to the past that looks like the future. Image credit: Bethesda / Virtuos

Looking back at Microsoft’s leaked Bethesda roadmap, a Fallout 3 remaster is expected to follow Oblivion in 2026, aligning with the second season of the Fallout TV show, which focuses on New Vegas. Given the successful integration of the show's first season with Fallout 4, it's plausible that Bethesda might surprise fans with a New Vegas remake around the time of the show's second season finale.

The overwhelming response to the Oblivion remaster suggests that fans are eager to revisit Bethesda's classic RPGs. However, remastering games like The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind presents unique challenges. Morrowind's fans have long campaigned for a remake, with some even creating a Skyrim-based version called Skyblivion. Yet, Morrowind's distinct mechanics, such as its text-based storytelling, lack of quest markers, and unique combat system, make it a tricky candidate for modernization. Striking the right balance between preserving its original charm and enhancing it for modern audiences is a delicate task.

When a studio is synonymous with a gaming genre, maintaining innovation while retaining fans is crucial. Rockstar Games has managed this with GTA Online, funding the development of GTA 6. Bethesda's strength lies in its single-player, expansive worlds, unlike Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76. The enthusiastic reception to the Oblivion remaster indicates that revisiting Bethesda's past could be a winning strategy. However, not all remasters are guaranteed successes, as seen with Rockstar's GTA Definitive Editions. For Bethesda, breathing new life into its classic RPGs could be the path to reclaiming its status as a leader in the modern RPG space.