Senior game designer Bruce Nesmith, renowned for his contributions to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has expressed awe at the extent of work Bethesda and Virtuos have put into the newly released Oblivion Remastered. In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith admitted that the term "remaster" may not fully encapsulate the comprehensive overhaul that the game has undergone. He emphasized the immense effort, or as he put it, the "blood, sweat, and tears," that originally went into crafting every detail of Cyrodiil, making the transformation seen in the remaster even more astonishing.

Nesmith shared his initial expectations, saying, “I was assuming this was going to be a texture update. I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be... I would not have batted an eye at that. But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game.” His comments highlight the depth of the changes, which range from visual enhancements to significant gameplay modifications.

Despite no official announcement from Bethesda prior to its surprise launch, the reception from fans has been overwhelmingly positive. The game's new features, such as a sprint mechanic and alterations to the leveling system, have led many to believe that Oblivion Remastered is more akin to a remake than a mere remaster. Nesmith seems to agree, suggesting that it could be described as “Oblivion 2.0,” and adding, “That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”

In an effort to categorize the extensive updates, Nesmith labeled it as “Oblivion 2.0,” underscoring the transformative nature of the project. As the community continues to explore and appreciate the revamped world of Cyrodiil, Bethesda has provided insight into their naming decision. In a statement shared on social media, the studio clarified that their goal was not to remake Oblivion but to modernize it while preserving the core experience loved by fans, flaws and all.

“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” the statement from Bethesda reads. “But there are also so many who have never played it. We can’t thank you enough for all the support you have given us and our games over the years. Our hope with this remaster is, that no matter who you are, when you step out of the Imperial sewer – you feel like you’re experiencing it for the first time.”

Oblivion Remastered was unveiled and released as a shadow drop by Bethesda, now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can enjoy it at no additional cost. The surprise launch has sparked excitement within the Elder Scrolls community, particularly among the modding enthusiasts who are already responding to the new opportunities presented by the remaster.

For those eager to dive into the revamped world, a comprehensive guide is available, covering everything from an Interactive Map to complete Walkthroughs of the Main Questline and Guild Quests, tips on Building the Perfect Character, and a list of Things to Do First, ensuring players can fully experience the revitalized Cyrodiil.