Oblivion Remastered Just SHOCKED Gamers (Like Ninja Gaiden 2!)

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For weeks, there had been whispers about it in the gaming community, but everyone already knew – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered was finally unveiled by Bethesda this week. In a twist, they didn’t just announce it, but also released it unexpectedly, or “shadow-dropped” it. The whole thing started on April 21, when Bethesda posted a mysterious image on their social media and asked fans to tune in the next day for a special livestream. As expected, this livestream was indeed an event announcing Oblivion Remastered. During the 20-minute presentation, Bethesda revealed details about the game and confirmed that it would be available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC, all on the same day.

The reality that we can now play “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered” is, without a shadow of a doubt, a significant event. For years, fans have been clamoring for Bethesda to re-release their iconic 2006 RPG, “TES 4: Oblivion,” on modern platforms in some form or another. While the game was playable on PCs and Xbox consoles through backwards compatibility, it wasn’t natively available on current-gen PlayStation systems, and its gameplay and graphics had begun to look outdated. Considering these factors, Bethesda’s decision to not only announce but also immediately release a remaster as eagerly anticipated as this was a daring move. Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time such an event has occurred this year, as fans of “Ninja Gaiden” will recall.

Oblivion Remastered and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Have Launched Under Very Similar Circumstances

In the chilly month of January this year, I found myself immersed in the brutal world of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a revamped version of an action-packed gem from the Xbox 360 era, crafted by Koei Tecmo Games and Team Ninja. At first glance, it may seem that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered are two completely different entities, especially since they were both released in the same year. But upon closer examination, there’s more to these games than meets the eye, particularly when it comes to their release strategies.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Was Shadow-Dropped During the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct

It appears that Koei Tecmo didn’t spend a large marketing budget on the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. Instead, it was covertly introduced during a presentation similar to Oblivion Remastered. On January 23, Microsoft held its third annual Xbox Developer Direct event, showcasing four upcoming games for Xbox and Game Pass. Before the event, one of these games was kept secret by Microsoft. To everyone’s surprise, this hidden game turned out to be Ninja Gaiden 4, and with its announcement, they also unveiled a new title in the series, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.

Following the conclusion of the Xbox Developer Direct event, “Ninja Gaiden 2 Black” became available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC simultaneously. The game turned out to be an enhanced version of Unreal Engine 5, based on the PS3 port of “Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2” (not the original Xbox 360 edition of “Ninja Gaiden 2”), featuring modifications in gameplay and improved visuals. Koei Tecmo marketed “Ninja Gaiden 2 Black” as a remaster, but many perceived it more as a remake. The term “remake” seemed fitting due to the extensive graphical overhaul compared to its predecessor and the complete reconstruction of the game on a new engine.

Oblivion Remastered and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Have a Few Things in Common

It turns out that although the title of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered includes the word ‘remaster’, some players have referred to it as a remake. This is due to the significant enhancements made to the game’s visual quality compared to the original released in 2006, and adjustments to its gameplay systems. Interestingly, Oblivion Remastered shares more than just a platform with Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. Both games were developed using Unreal Engine 5, and like Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, Oblivion Remastered was released on Xbox Game Pass. Although these two games cater to different audiences, their simultaneous appearance on Microsoft’s subscription service hints that more Game Pass games might adopt this release strategy in the future.

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2025-04-25 18:43