Oblivion Remastered’s release received much fanfare and critical acclaim, with reviewers congratulating Bethesda on a job well done. It was a joyful revisit to one of the most influential open-world ARPGs of all time and a long-anticipated project that had fans salivating at the idea of an Unreal Engine 5 version of one of the most formative games of their childhood. And whileOblivion Remastereddid deliver in terms of visual upgrades and smooth performance on modern systems, it dropped the ball on something else: mod support.
The lack of official mod tools like the Creation Kit severely undercutOblivion Remastered’s long-term potential and staying power. Without a mod-friendlyOblivion Remastered, massive community projects with the same scope as the ones developed forSkyrimbecame a pipe dream. Considering howSkyrim’s modding scene has kept the game relevant for over a decade, it’s a head-scratcher as to why Bethesda opted not to double down on a sure win. SomeOblivion Remasteredplayers are heading back toSkyrim,and the lack of mod support could be the culprit.
Oblivion Remastered Got a Lot Right, But Fell Flat with Mods
Oblivion Remastered Could’ve Been Great, But Settled on Good Instead
If there is one thingOblivion Remastereddeserves credit for, it’s the visuals. Wrapping a layer of Unreal Engine 5 on top ofOblivion’s existing engine was a stroke of genius and one that worked even better than the most ambitiousfan videos imagining what Oblivion would look like in UE5. But these upgrades only go so far. Bethesda has been very transparent thatOblivion Remasteredis a Remaster, not a Remake, which means that underneath the updated graphics, it is still the same game that came out in 2006, with all the weaknesses that come with it.
Now, this isn’t a fault withOblivion Remasteredper se; other Bethesda RPGs cannot claim to be perfect either. But where games likeSkyrim,Starfield,Fallout, and even the originalOblivionhave their own active modding communities to ‘fix’ the game via mods,Oblivion Remastereddoesn’t, and that is by design. Thelack of official modding support forOblivion Remasteredputs a timer on thegame’slife expectancy, something that could’ve been easily avoided. WhereSkyrimhas thrived for 14 years thanks to its modding scene,Oblivion Remasteredhas to stand and face the scrutiny almost entirely on its own merits. No matter how great a gameOblivion Remasteredis, without mods allowing players to turn it into an infinitely replayable sandbox, interest may wane faster than expected.
Skyrim’s Modding Scene Still Dwarfs Everything Else
Skyrim Set a Standard Oblivion Remastered Cannot Live Up To
From huge, DLC-sized land mods to completely reimagined gameplay mechanics to modern animations,Skyrimis almost infinitely replayable. Mods like Enderal, Legacy of the Dragonborn, and Beyond Skyrim offer hundreds of hours of new content individually, and that’s just not somethingOblivion Remasteredcan compete with, not without mods of its own.
The virtuous cycle formed betweenSkyrim’s modding community, the player base, and the game studio is something other developers have tried—and failed—to replicate. It’s not about the number of mods either (111,000 and counting), but the fact thatSkyrimhas evolved into a platform for moddersto realize their vision. It’s reached the point that what’s in the base doesn’t even enter the equation. Modders are using the game’s engine to create new custom worlds of their own to play in, a makeshift game engine in its own right.
The Legacy of Elder Scrolls Modding Is Long And Storied, But It Won’t Last Forever
Oblivion Remasteredhad a chance to rekindle lasting interest in one of Bethesda’s most beloved RPGs, but by ignoring modding, the lifeblood ofThe Elder Scrollsgames, it let that opportunity pass it by. With no modding ecosystem,Oblivion Remasteredis a one-and-done experience. It won’t have the replayability or the community engagement to have the same longevity as others in the franchise. Future Bethesda games, especiallyThe Elder Scrolls 6, would be wise to take a page out ofSkyrim’s playbookinstead ofOblivion Remastered.
Bethesda has long held a dominant position in the modding scene thanks to its community-first approach and incredibly modder-friendly game engine. But withStarfield’s disappointing results, the long wait time forTES 6, andOblivion Remastereddropping the ball on modding, that hold is not quite as stable anymore. Studios like Larian and CD Projekt RED, who are actively catering to their respective modding communities, are slowly chipping away at Bethesda’s market share.The Elder Scrolls 6might be Bethesda’s best chance at reclaiming its spot at the top, but it’ll only work if the studio learns the lessons the community is trying to teach.
