It came as a shock to many that Bethesda Softworks and Virtuos Ltd unexpectedly launched “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered” on PlayStation 5, Steam, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S digital platforms without much prior announcement. For months, whispers of a remaster or remake of the 2006 game “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion” had been circulating, but few were prepared for the sudden, relatively low-key release of “Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.” With an upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 that enhances both the graphics and gameplay, players old and new can revisit Cyrodiil and the planes of Oblivion like they’ve never seen before. However, to make this moment truly special, Bethesda might consider releasing “Oblivion Remastered” in physical copies as well.
The History of Oblivion Physical and Digital Releases
The Xbox 360’s early success was boosted significantly by ‘The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion’, which was launched exclusively for this console and PCs in January 2006, a mere four months after the Xbox 360’s debut. With its vast fantasy setting, engaging gameplay, humorous NPC dialogues, and substantial file size of 4.6 GB, ‘Oblivion’ flew off shelves, selling millions of copies and garnering multiple awards. Inspired by its success, the developers – Bethesda, Superscape, and Vir2L Studios – introduced a mobile phone version of ‘Oblivion’ in mid 2006, followed by Ubisoft releasing a PlayStation 3 version in early 2007. While physical copies drove most of its initial sales, the game rapidly gained popularity on digital platforms such as Xbox Live Marketplace and Steam.
In the late 2000s, Bethesda kept the game “Oblivion” significant and up-to-date by introducing several DLCs. These included the Horse Armor Pack, Knights of the Nine expansion, Shivering Isles expansion, and various content packs released in 2006 and 2007. Most of this content was available digitally, but those without regular internet access could later obtain “Oblivion”‘s DLCs and enhanced game versions physically through the Game of the Year Edition (2007), 5th Anniversary Edition (2011), and other special editions like Greatest/Platinum Hits. Players could also purchase physical copies of “Oblivion” in double packs alongside popular games such as Bethesda’s “Fallout 3” and 2K’s “BioShock.
On subsequent PlayStation and Xbox platforms, there were no actual copies of the game “Oblivion” released, however, versions of “Oblivion” for Xbox 360 can be played on both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles due to backwards compatibility.
Why Oblivion Remastered Needs to be Released Physically
At present, it’s not possible to buy the Oblivion Remastered game in physical form for any platform, and Bethesda has yet to disclose any intentions of doing so in the future, whether on CD or cartridge. Despite the ongoing decline of physical video game sales over the last two decades, it’s crucial for both Bethesda and Microsoft to consider releasing Oblivion Remastered physically, given the substantial number of gamers and retailers who still favor or depend on traditional media. Although some games and newer consoles like the Xbox Series S and X All-Digital may require constant internet access, there are still many platforms and games that can be played offline.
As a gamer, I’m excited about the possibility of getting a physical copy of “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered”. This way, I could enjoy the game regardless of my internet connection status. However, it’s important to note that a physical release doesn’t necessarily mean offline play for this remaster. In fact, some recent games, even single-player ones like “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” and “Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster”, require an internet connection for installation or gameplay, even though they offer single-player content. This is often because the games are so large that parts of their content need to be downloaded online, or publishers are using disks as keys to download the game without any actual game data on them. If “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered” follows this trend, it might require an internet connection for part of the installation, given its large file size around 125 GB. Nevertheless, many gamers, including myself, would appreciate having a physical copy to display in our collections.
What Would be the Ideal Release Window for a Physical Oblivion Remastered?
Although it’s available online only at the moment, Oblivion Remastered is seeing extraordinary sales and garnering highly favorable feedback. It’s plausible that Bethesda may soon manufacture and distribute disks of Doom: The Dark Ages, but they might also consider releasing physical copies of Oblivion Remastered shortly afterwards, ideally within the next four months to capitalize on this positive buzz. This potential release could align with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 as well. However, it’s just speculation at this point, as there’s no evidence suggesting physical versions of Oblivion Remastered are on the horizon – even though the fan base would likely be eager for such a release.
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2025-04-27 17:37