Like the sun rising in the east, some things are nigh-on inevitable, much likeSkyrimgetting 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 bothSkyrimandOblivionfor PS5 and Xbox Series X, and bundling them together.
It’s anAce Bethesda has up its sleeve. Not only would that get around the problem of Bethesda re-releasingSkyrimyet again, but it would also be remaking another game inOblivionthat, while dated, plenty of fans would still love to see have another day in the sun.
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A Full Skyrim And Oblivion Remake
The most interesting option here would be a full remake, akin to whatBluepoint has done withDemon’s Souls. BothOblivionandSkyrimare games that have been out for quite some time now (fourteen years in the case ofOblivion),and are going to have a bit more limited appeal due to the relatively clunky nature of the gameplay, by today’s standards. InSkyrim’scase, while it might not feel quite as dated asOblivion,it could still certainly use an upgrade.
This would give room to fully realize or rework entire gameplaymechanics players always wished were inSkyrim, 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 bothOblivionandSkyrim.
A Full Skyrim And Oblivion Remaster
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 thenear-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 originalSkyrimand theSkyrim: Special Editionwas 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 differencein 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.
Bundle Skyrim And Oblivion Together
One aspect that has definitely frustrated fans of the series is the fact that each time Bethesda re-releasesSkyrim,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 bothSkyrimandObliviontogether. ConsideringOblivionhas 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 tryOblivionwho wouldn’t otherwise, too. Even if they’re just buying it forSkyrim,there are pretty good odds they’ll at least giveObliviona shot.
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People Are Still Playing Skyrim, and That’s Reason Enough
Even if some players are done with these games,Skyrimespecially, there are always going to be plenty of people wandering through the previousElder Scrollsinstallment’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,Skyrimespecially) have. A healthy modding community can extend the lifespan of a game significantly, and inSkyrim’scase, it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. From full gameplay mechanic overhauls to launching entirelydifferent games using in-game assets like Enderal, there’s an entire world of mods to explore that completely revitalize the player experience inOblivionandSkyrimand 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, likeStarfieldandElder Scrolls 6,which is years away.
It’ll Probably Be A While Until Starfield
It’s probably going to be a long while untilStarfieldcomes out, which is the next game on Bethesda’s docket. Bethesda Game Studios Vice President Pete Hines saidnot to expect any news onStarfielduntil 2021, while Todd Howard has said that Bethesda doesn’t want to show anything fromStarfielduntil it’s sure it is showing the finished product. If it follows in the footsteps ofFallout 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 areElder Scrolls Online,Fallout 76, andBlades.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 theElder Scrollsdepartment. Remaking or remasteringOblivionandSkyrimwould be the perfect way to refresh fans and whet their appetites for theTES6release, however long away that is.
