Like the sun rising in the east, some things are nigh-on inevitable, much like Skyrim getting ported to the newest consoles. It’s one of those things that plenty of people like to make memes and joke about, but it’s not really a bad thing. There are a lot of different angles to look at this from, but an option that could actually be worth talking about is remaking both Skyrim and Oblivion for PS5 and Xbox Series X, and bundling them together.
It’s an Ace Bethesda has up its sleeve. Not only would that get around the problem of Bethesda re-releasing Skyrim yet again, but it would also be remaking another game in Oblivion that, while dated, plenty of fans would still love to see have another day in the sun.
The most interesting option here would be a full remake, akin to what Bluepoint has done with Demon’s Souls. Both Oblivion and Skyrim are games that have been out for quite some time now (fourteen years in the case of Oblivion), and are going to have a bit more limited appeal due to the relatively clunky nature of the gameplay, by today’s standards. In Skyrim’s case, while it might not feel quite as dated as Oblivion, it could still certainly use an upgrade.
This would give room to fully realize or rework entire gameplay mechanics players always wished were in Skyrim, making both of them much more fleshed out experiences. These games could both have entirely overhauled weather systems with temperatures and effects players need to worry about. Combat could be overhauled, new weapons and spells could be added, and quests could be fleshed out/added. The list goes on and on, but the point is, a full remake could add a whole slew of awesome possibilities for both Oblivion and Skyrim.
Even without a full remake, there would be a ton of value in simply remastering them. At the very least, if the graphics were updated to 4K and frame rates increased to 60fps, that would go a long way in making each game feel a little more modern. That’s without mentioning the near-immediate loading times on PS5 and Xbox Series X, making entering and exiting buildings almost seamless.
The remaster could even go a little further. The difference between the original Skyrim and the Skyrim: Special Edition was already remarkable; imagining everything the developer accomplished with the power of the new consoles in their corner is really interesting. Ray-tracing alone makes an incredible difference in older games, as would improving upon the somewhat lackluster draw-distance. New weather effects could severely change the experience, especially if the weather turned particularly nasty, forcing players to adapt their style of play to the elements around them.
One aspect that has definitely frustrated fans of the series is the fact that each time Bethesda re-releases Skyrim, it’s at full-price—even when it’s not the remastered version, as with the Switch. The perfect way to make the price tag seem less egregious? Bundle both Skyrim and Oblivion together. Considering Oblivion has never been remastered, it’s a decision that would make a lot of people happy. It would be a fantastic way to get a lot of people to try Oblivion who wouldn’t otherwise, too. Even if they’re just buying it for Skyrim, there are pretty good odds they’ll at least give Oblivion a shot.
Even if some players are done with these games, Skyrim especially, there are always going to be plenty of people wandering through the previous Elder Scrolls installment’s huge maps. At this point, it’s like comfort food. Both of these games are absolutely massive in scale, and because of the different playstyle options and decisions players get to make, it can be a vastly different experience each playthrough.
That’s without mentioning the insane modding support that these games (again, Skyrim especially) have. A healthy modding community can extend the lifespan of a game significantly, and in Skyrim’s case, it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. From full gameplay mechanic overhauls to launching entirely different games using in-game assets like Enderal, there’s an entire world of mods to explore that completely revitalize the player experience in Oblivion and Skyrim and give a lot more interest in repeated playthroughs.
So if players are still playing and enjoying these games, there’s essentially no reason to not give them a bigger and better version to play and enjoy. If Bethesda outsourced the remake or remaster to another developer, it wouldn’t take any time away from developing its future projects, like Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6, which is years away.
It’s probably going to be a long while until Starfield comes out, which is the next game on Bethesda’s docket. Bethesda Game Studios Vice President Pete Hines said not to expect any news on Starfield until 2021, while Todd Howard has said that Bethesda doesn’t want to show anything from Starfield until it’s sure it is showing the finished product. If it follows in the footsteps of Fallout 4, that means it will probably be announced the same year that it releases. The earliest that could be is next year, but that’s an optimistic estimate.
It’s been quite a while since fans have gotten any classic Bethesda content. The most recent releases from Bethesda are Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 76, and Blades. For those that don’t wish to play a multiplayer game or a mobile game, it’s been a significant drought for Bethesda content, especially in the Elder Scrolls department. Remaking or remastering Oblivion and Skyrim would be the perfect way to refresh fans and whet their appetites for the TES6 release, however long away that is.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development.
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