In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glory of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. To keep the excitement alive in Cyrodiil, the developer began rolling out small paid DLC packages. Little did they anticipate the uproar that would follow the release of their first DLC, the infamous horse armor, in April of that year.

Even if you weren't gaming back then, you've probably heard about the horse armor controversy. Although DLC was not new at the time, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 Marketplace (around $2.50), sparked a major debate due to its perceived lack of utility.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades are now standard in the gaming world. This shift has emboldened Bethesda to playfully reintroduce horse armor with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. As part of the game's shadow-drop and reveal today, we discovered that the remaster offers a base edition and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10 on top of the base game, deluxe edition buyers can enjoy new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook and soundtrack app, and, yes, two sets of horse armor once again.

Most fans are taking this news in stride. We're nearly two decades past the era when cosmetic DLC like horse armor was a novel and controversial concept. Today, players are accustomed to spending money on such cosmetic enhancements. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run."

Many find Bethesda's nod to this once-scandalous moment amusing, appreciating the company's willingness to poke fun at its own history.

PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0

— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025

Honestly I have to respect it. New players won't know this, but releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a subtle reference to when they singlehandedly ruined the industry by selling it the first time around. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX

— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025

£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr

— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025

Oblivion Remastered isn't just about nostalgia; it's already seeing community involvement with mods. Just hours after its launch, a handful of mods appeared on Nexus Mods, offering minor customization options.

As we anticipate more mods to be released, delve into why some players believe this release is more of a remake than a remaster, and understand Bethesda's choice to label it as "Remastered."

For a deep dive into what Oblivion Remastered offers, check out our comprehensive guide. It includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.

Which Race Are You Playing As in Oblivion?

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