Skyblivion mod team explains its Oblivion remake against Bethesda’s remaster — Here’s which you should play first

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When Bethesda released The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 recently, some were concerned that the Skyblivion project, a fan-made modification for Skyrim set to launch in 2025, might be overshadowed by the official release. However, the creators of Skyblivion swiftly alleviated concerns once the remaster’s release date was disclosed, expressing confidence that “both projects can coexist and prosper, providing distinct gaming experiences for players.

After the release of Oblivion Remastered, the team has elaborated further on their plans. To clarify, the Oblivion Remaster from Bethesda and Virtuos Games is a genuine remaster that maintains the original gameplay while enhancing it with stunning Unreal Engine 5 graphics and other enhancements built upon the Gamebryo Engine of the 2006 RPG. However, Skyblivion will be a comprehensive overhaul rather than a mere remaster. It aims to substantially alter Oblivion’s worldspace, questlines, combat mechanics, and numerous other aspects.

In simple terms, Evan from the Skyblivion subreddit stated that “Oblivion Remastered looks stunning and offers the best way to relive the 2006 Oblivion experience. It boasts improved graphics along with useful improvements in gameplay mechanics.” However, he noted that it’s a direct remaster of the original game, meaning all items, terrain features, enemies, and landscapes are identical to their 2006 versions. In contrast, Skyblivion is a full-scale remake of Oblivion intended to bring it in line with contemporary RPG standards.

Afterward, the Skyblivion crew shared numerous modifications (though not every single one) that their mod introduces to the original Oblivion gameplay, and I’ll summarize those changes for you as well (in a compact manner):

1. Cyrodiil: A significantly expanded and improved version of the game’s map.
2. Graphics Overhaul: Enhanced visuals, including textures, lighting effects, and character models.
3. New Quests: Countless new adventures to undertake beyond the original storyline.
4. Expanded Dialogue: Richer conversations with more options for player interaction.
5. New Music: A collection of fresh tracks to complement your journey through Cyrodiil.
6. Improved AI: Enhanced artificial intelligence for enemies, making combat more challenging and rewarding.
7. New Items: Numerous new weapons, armor, and other items to discover and use.
8. Modified Gameplay Mechanics: Various tweaks to game mechanics for a more immersive experience.
9. New Characters: A host of fresh faces to meet and interact with throughout your journey.
10. New Locations: Countless new places to explore, from bustling cities to hidden caves.

  • Every area and interior have been remade, with major changes to many based on context or in-game dialogue (libraries have stocked bookshelves, places described as noble estates are overhauled to look the part)
  • Interactable items have either been remade or given a Skyrim model so that every weapon, armor, and miscellaneous item has a unique model
  • All of Oblivion’s systems and menus have been overhauled, with many “remade or iterated upon” and a new perk system added
  • Cities and settlements in Cyrodiil have been reimagined, with some offering entirely new areas to explore and others featuring major design changes inspired by Oblivion concept art
  • Restored cut content is also featured, including Sutch — a large city that’s been overrun by bandits
  • Every in-game sound has been remade, and 22 original music tracks have been composed and added to the existing Oblivion score
  • Many boss fights are being reworked into challenging “Legacy Bosses” with scripted elements and unique stages
  • Cyrodiil now features many new biomes and weather systems, with each of these also affecting interiors in that region; ruins in a swamp, for example, will have plenty of moss and other types of vegetation growing within
  • New enemies seen in The Elder Scrolls Online and other entries have been added, and variants of existing foes have been added as well

In addition to all this excitement, it has been verified that since Skyblivion is a mod for Skyrim, numerous Skyrim mods can seamlessly integrate with Skyblivion without any issues. Given that there are now over 100,000 Skyrim Special Edition mods available on Nexus Mods, you’ll have ample opportunities to customize Skyblivion to your preferences.

Oblivion Remastered is great, but Skyblivion is calling my name

Although Oblivion Remastered is undeniably excellent, as indicated by its widespread critical praise, enthusiastic fan reviews, and impressive Steam player counts peaking over 200,000, I am more intrigued by the comprehensive remake approach that Skyblivion is taking. For me, Oblivion’s (notorious) rough edges have always been endearing yet challenging to immerse myself in its world; this is particularly important for open-world RPGs, a genre I appreciate deeply. Consequently, I’ve always found Oblivion less engaging than Skyrim or even the older 2003 title Morrowind. Skyblivion appears to be addressing that roughness while simultaneously expanding and refining Oblivion’s world, which aligns perfectly with my preferences.

It’s heartening to witness the Skyblivion team maintaining their optimism about their vision, working diligently towards a 2025 launch date. This project has been under development since way back in 2012. If you’re pondering whether to play Oblivion Remastered beforehand or hold off for Skyblivion, I recommend diving into Oblivion Remastered straight away to immerse yourself in the classic RPG experience. Later, when Skyblivion arrives, you can enjoy a “rerun” of the game to appreciate how it compares and benefits from its foundational changes, enhanced with Unreal Engine 5 graphics and various improvements to gameplay quality.

*Take note: The remastered version of Oblivion is priced at $49.99 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. However, you can grab it for a discounted price of $41.49 on Steam through Fanatical if you prefer that platform for your RPG needs. For those with an Xbox or PC, the game is also accessible via Xbox Game Pass.

*In case you’re unaware, Skyblivion is scheduled to release later this year, and it will be available for free, but only on Steam and GOG versions of Skyrim Special Edition. Just remember that in order to play Skyblivion, you’ll need to own the original Oblivion GOTY Deluxe Edition as it relies on its files and content.

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2025-04-28 22:09