Former Blizzard President “Skeptical” Of 20-Year Old Remasters Like Oblivion

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Summary

  • Former Blizzard president skeptical of 20-year-old remasters like Oblivion due to evolving standards.
  • Gamers prove Bethesda’s exec wrong as Oblivion Remastered soared to top sellers list quickly.
  • Oblivion Remastered praised by gamers as more than just a remaster, showing it’s worth the price.

Yesterday, Bethesda made a significant impact in the gaming community by not only unveiling but also launching The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered for both console and PC platforms.

Although many Role Playing Game (RPG) enthusiasts may have eagerly anticipated its release since the whispers of its creation began, one prominent video game developer doesn’t seem to share their excitement.

Blizzard Entertainment’s Former President Says Old Remasters Will Never Hold Up To Games Like Elden Ring

In an unexpected statement, Mike Ybarra, the former president of Blizzard Entertainment, expressed his doubts about remasters that are 20 years old. Although he didn’t explicitly name The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, it seems clear that he was discussing Bethesda’s RPG in general.

As a devoted fan, I find myself harboring doubts about the allure of 20-year-old remasters. What once seemed extraordinary now feels overshadowed by modern marvels such as Elden Ring. The benchmark has shifted from comfortably navigable open-world RPGs to the unprecedented experience that Elden Ring offers us. I fervently hope to be proven wrong, but I fear my skepticism may be well-founded.

In a different wording, Ybarra (who once held a high-ranking position at Microsoft’s corporate level in the past) stated that gamers have been exposed to numerous remasters, which has led him to believe that nostalgia might be running low. However, he also acknowledges the possibility of his assumption being incorrect, as he suggests that the gaming community yearns for something new and innovative more than ever before.

The rapid ascent of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered to the top-selling list on Steam shortly after its release suggests that Ybarra’s predictions were quite off the mark. Keep in mind that this doesn’t include sales data from PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Game Pass platforms.

Ybarra’s statement seems to imply that executives might be disconnected from the preferences of video game enthusiasts. It’s not a matter of gamers rejecting remastered or re-released games, but rather about whether these remasters offer good value for money, or if they are simply money-grabbing attempts.

According to feedback from gamers, Oblivion Remastered is considered a worthy re-release and could be described as more of a complete remake rather than simply a remaster. This is due to Bethesda significantly enhancing various aspects of the game, including visuals, gameplay mechanics, and other features.

Meanwhile on the topic of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, an easy method has been discovered for players to quickly boost their character stats to maximum levels.

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2025-04-24 03:38