The recent release of
Oblivion Remastered
Has typically been received positively by fans of the Elder Scrolls series, though it hasn’t lacked controversy.
A key discussion topic following the “shadow drop,” which had been widely expected by spoilers for several months beforehand, centered around its inevitable impact on the fan-created Skyblivion project.
Similar to the Fallout 4 update,
thwarted the release of Fallout London
Oblivion Remastered will undoubtedly make things more challenging for the Skyblivion team and could potentially impact the number of players they end up attracting.
Although the Skyblivion team have been very gracious about this matter, Bethesda rubbed extra salt into the wound by
“gifting” them free copies of Oblivion Remastered
. All the others were required to pay the complete AAA price or sign up for Game Pass just to revisit this 2006 title once more.
Having grown up playing and enjoying Oblivion, I found myself mostly let down by the remastered edition. Nonetheless, I stay quite hopeful regarding Skyblivion. Here’s why:
It Will Not Be Created Using Unreal Engine
Enabling More Focus On Handling Deals
After spending 5 years honing my skills as an animator and acquiring considerable expertise with Unreal Engine, I can confidently say that shortcuts were employed, and the engine was largely allowed to handle most of the grunt work in Oblivion Remastered.
Sure, it looks more realistic and has “better graphics”, but the soul and atmosphere of the original game has largely been stripped away thanks to an
over-reliance on UE5’s default capabilities
.
A key instance is the utilization of the Nanite lighting system, which was groundbreaking in 2022 but has since become nearly ubiquitous in the industry.
Additional focus should be placed on crafting the cozy, Central European ambiance that set Cyrodil apart and made it special—particularly during the evening times. From what can be seen in early previews, Skyblivion seems to grasp this idea more effectively.
Although Skyblivion may have limitations regarding its visual quality and might not include the advanced particle effects or dynamic lighting achievable with Unreal Engine 5 alone, these constraints provide developers with additional opportunities to incorporate nuanced atmospheric elements through manual texture integration.
Improved AI Behavior
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Oblivion was never known for its particularly smart artificial intelligence, and the 2025 remaster doesn’t change that. This isn’t necessarily a negative point though. In fact, Oblivion’s distinctive AI has led to numerous amusing and meme-famous instances throughout the years.
However, one aspect where seasoned Skyrim players will notice a significant change is the
game’s stealth mechanics
.
Similar to the original Oblivion, the stealth artificial intelligence remains noticeably less advanced than Skyrim’s version. Enemies may fail to react to arrows shot directly at them or overlook your presence even when you’re nearby.
Luckily, Skyblivion will feature enhanced AI from Skyrim as the norm, potentially making stealth gameplay smoother and more efficient.
It’s not to suggest that Skyblivion’s artificial intelligence will be flawless in any way, yet there are notable distinctions between how non-player characters (NPCs) behave and exhibit environmental perception in Oblivion as opposed to Skyrim. Despite these disparities, it’s somewhat unexpected that significant enhancements haven’t been implemented into the Oblivion remake; however, ample opportunity remains for such updates through future patches.
Animations and Combat Finishers
Aren’t These Cutscenes Amazing?
Players who have delved into Oblivion Remastered would have surely noticed the absence of any finishing moves during combat sequences.
Although combat has been enhanced over the 2006 title, showing better hit detection and more responsive enemy behavior, it doesn’t fully measure up to Skyrim’s standards in numerous aspects.
Although I understand that some people did not enjoy fights ending with weapon strikes, I personally loved it. If you’re embodying a character such as the Champion of Cyrodill, you’d want your blades to demonstrate their destructive power.
Since Oblivion lacks dismemberment and stealth takedowns, combat can feel rather dull and monotonous over time. The developers of Skyblivion are expected to keep these elements, potentially enhancing quests such as the
Dark Brotherhood storyline
even more immersive.
Skyrim Mod Compatibility
Supported by an Energetic CommunityBacking
Long-time Skyrim players have something to cheer about regarding Skyblivion’s mod compatibility. Since Skyblivion is essentially another mod for Skyrim, all visual improvements, weapon or character modifications, and similar alterations should carry over seamlessly into Skyblivion as well.
inevitably, some issues might arise, and specific modifications could necessitate updates, but generally speaking, through minor graphical adjustments, gamers have a fair opportunity to enjoy an enhanced experience.
readily attain the same degrees of accuracy
as detailed in Skyblivion as they are in Oblivion Remastered.
If, like me, your Skyrim mod list exceeds the journey to High Hrothgar, then you’ll find this to be great news.
Some mods have been with us for so long that we can barely distinguish them from the base game, and each player will have their own particular quirks and preferences when it comes to things like graphics and UI.
Dual Wielding and Spellcasting
A Massive Oversight In The Remaster
A significant addition that “Skyrim” brought to the “Elder Scrolls” franchise was the option for players to wield two weapons simultaneously. As this capability did not exist in “Oblivion,” it remains absent from its enhanced remake as well.
For those of us who are used to setups involving dual-wielding weapons or combining weapon usage with spells, reverting to the older system might seem somewhat disorienting.
Although it doesn’t impact spellcasting as significantly because you can use a hotkey for that, it was fantastic to amplify the effectiveness of specific spells by two times when cast using both hands simultaneously.
The feature appears rather basic, yet surprisingly it wasn’t included in the Oblivion Remaster.
Skyblivion should not face these problems.
This will allow for a much wider range of character creations and combat techniques for players inside the game.
Better UI
To Achieve a More Traditional Touch
When comparing the Oblivion Remaster to Skyblivion, the user interface design stands out as an aspect where the remaster seems particularly lacking.
Although newcomers or individuals transitioning from Skyrim may not perceive significant changes, veterans who experienced the initial release of Oblivion will observe that the contemporary user interface appears quite simplistic and fails to capture the distinctive flair and appeal of the original version.
Luckily, Skyblivion has kept the original UI design intact while incorporating minor enhancements that give it a somewhat different feel.
more modern and user-friendly
.
For PC gamers specifically, the user interface might pose a problem because its size and scaling aren’t adjustable. However, with Skyblivion, this shouldn’t be a concern due to the inventory system being revamped using the well-known SkyUI modification.
Dungeon Variety
The Dungeons in Oblivion Stay Mostly Unchanged
A critique directed at the initial release of Oblivion was
the scarcity of diverse dungeons
. Sure, dungeons might have appeared in different places on the map, but overall many of them felt very similar and became boring quite quickly as a result.
The Skyblivion modders have made a point of ensuring dungeon spaces feel immersive and varied. This is done through adding icy areas where the dungeon is in colder regions, or sand in the warmer areas etc.
It’s amazing that the Oblivion Remaster did not take this into consideration, as the same issue can now be felt by modern players exploring Ayleid ruins.
It may not seem like a huge deal, but the dungeons in Skyblivion will likely feel far more diverse and immersive due to their environmental details.