Oblivion Remaster Launches on Nintendo Switch 2 with Exciting New Trailer

Tamriel is set to make its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2 very soon. The remastered version of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is launching on August 11, accompanied by a self-referential trailer featuring the game’s notorious Adoring Fan NPC following the player around. It’s a delightful touch.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered was released last year on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, attracting 9 million players within just three months. As the title suggests, this remaster of Bethesda’s iconic 2006 RPG has been revamped with Unreal Engine 5 graphics and various quality-of-life enhancements. Critics praised it, largely because, despite its famously awkward dialogue, Oblivion remains a fantastic experience.

From the trailer, it seems the remaster is performing decently on the Switch 2, which is somewhat surprising considering that the PC version was labeled as “one of the worst-running games” by a tech outlet. However, it’s unlikely Bethesda would highlight technical issues in their promotional material.

While The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the title that truly broke into the mainstream, selling 60 million copies and becoming one of the best-selling games ever, Oblivion played a crucial role in expanding the series’ reach and attracting console gamers.

However, the situation at Bethesda’s parent company, Microsoft, is quite challenging. Xbox is reportedly gearing up for a “reset,” which may involve shutting down or selling studios like Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs, potentially leading to one of the largest layoffs in gaming history. The cuts could extend beyond these studios, affecting Microsoft-owned Blizzard Entertainment, ZeniMax Media, and other Xbox divisions.

Despite Bethesda’s solid history, the studio has been developing The Elder Scrolls 6 for a while, having announced it back in 2018, although full production only kicked off in 2023 after Starfield was released. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has expressed a desire to see the next Elder Scrolls and Fallout games launched as soon as possible. While it seems counterintuitive to reduce staff at a studio already facing challenges in timely game releases, Microsoft might be looking to support the team with additional studios or push for a smaller scope to expedite the next release. The future remains uncertain, but it’s likely to be a tough road ahead.

Bethesda will offer The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 in three different editions, all of which include the infamous Horse Armor.

Bigger isn’t always better.