Rumors are swirling that Bethesda is gearing up to announce a remake of the beloved classic, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, in the coming weeks, with a release soon to follow. The buzz started with NatetheHate, a reliable source known for accurately predicting the announcement date of the Nintendo Switch 2, who took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to reveal that the Oblivion remake could be unveiled this month or next. Video Games Chronicle (VGC) has since corroborated this information.

While the exact release date remains somewhat uncertain, NatetheHate suggests a launch before June, whereas VGC hints at a potential release as early as April. This news has sparked excitement among fans eager to revisit the rich world of Cyrodiil with modern graphics and gameplay enhancements.

Back in January, Mp1st reported on what seemed to be prematurely leaked details about the Oblivion remake from a former employee at Virtuos, a video game support studio. Microsoft, when approached by IGN for comment, remained tight-lipped. According to Mp1st, Virtuos is using Unreal Engine 5 for this project, indicating a comprehensive overhaul rather than a simple remaster. The remake reportedly includes significant changes to gameplay mechanics such as Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reaction, and the user interface's heads-up display (HUD).

Mp1st further detailed that the Blocking system has been revamped to be more engaging, drawing inspiration from action games and Soulslikes, as the original was deemed too "boring" and "frustrating." Sneak icons are now highlighted, damage calculation has been reworked, and the knockdown effect from depleted Stamina is harder to trigger. The HUD has been redesigned for clarity, hit reactions have been added to improve feedback, and Archery has been updated for both first and third-person views.

The whispers of an Oblivion remaster first surfaced in 2023 during the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) versus Microsoft trial concerning the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Documents from the trial, compiled in July 2020 ahead of Microsoft's March 2021 purchase of ZeniMax Media, listed several unannounced Bethesda projects, including an "Oblivion Remaster" slated for the 2022 financial year. Other projects mentioned included an Indiana Jones game, Doom Year Zero, Project Kestrel, Project Platinum, The Elder Scrolls 6, and remasters or sequels to Fallout 3, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Dishonored.

It's important to note that the term "remaster" was used in the Microsoft document, suggesting that the project may have evolved into a more ambitious remake. As we await Bethesda's official announcement, fans are buzzing with anticipation about what this could mean for the beloved RPG.

Regarding the platforms for the Oblivion remake, Microsoft's recent commitment to multiplatform releases, coupled with the anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 around June, suggests that the game might not be limited to just PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. There's a chance that Oblivion could be part of the Switch 2's launch lineup, further expanding its reach to a new generation of gamers.

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