Here we go again - another report has claimed that, yes, the Oblivion remake is definitely real, and could even be taking a few note??s from Soulslikes in its gameplay evolution.

Concrete rumors of an Oblivion remake have been circulating for a few months now, off??ering gamers hope that a return to the land of Cyrodil may be just around the corner. With Bethesda remaining typically tight-lipped, the rumors have remained just that for the time being.

The Oblivion remake is real, apparently

A report published by MP1st claims to have verified that the Oblivion remake is real, and goes much further than just a typical remaster. This allegedly comes ?via the website of a former Virtuos employee, the stu??dio rumored to be developing the game.

So, what's (supposedly) changing? Lots, apparently. Like everything else in the world, the Oblivion remake is being developed in Unreal E??ngine 5, with significant changes coming to several gameplay areas. The HUD has been changed to make it cleaner for the modern gamer, stamina knockdowns have been made much less frequent, and Archery h??as been reworked to make it playable in both first and third-person.

The real big news comes in the form of the Blocking overhauls. According to the report, blocking during combat has been overhauled with inspiration from Soulslike games, describing the original Oblivion system as "boring" and "frustrating." If accurate, this would raise the skill ceiling of Oblivion massively, which would be a pleasant surprise, especially for a m??odern remake where systems are often diluted and dumbed down.

Gamers hoping for a reveal of Oblivion at the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct are likely to be disappointed. The report claims it's not expected to make an appearance there, although it does point out that other outlets have claimed a June release is possible for the remake. If this is true, then a reveal likely isn't far away, with some theorizing that Microsoft is waiting until after the February release of Avowed, given the aesthetic sim?ilarities between the two.

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It's that time of the year once more: the annual rumor of a potential Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake has resurfaced, a?nd I'm allowing myself to believe all over again.

It has been almost two decades since Bethesda first released Oblivion, and its janky charm stands the test of time in a unique way. If this particular rumo?r is to be believed, it might not be long before we get to experience it all over again.

Oblivion remake rumors are nothing new

For years now, rumors have circled about a potential remake of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Nothing has ever arrived, but the ongoing wait for a new Elder Scrolls game has made fans crave something new from the series. The most recent rumor came in mid-2023 when a Reddit user alleging to be a former Virtuos Games employee claimed the Oblivion remake was in development at the studio.

Details from that rumor line up with new claims from leaker eXtas1s, who has said that the Oblivion remake is very much real and could even be revealed at the Xbox Direct event next month. And, of course, like everything in this day and age, it will apparently run on Unreal Engine 5.

Alongside these details, eXtas1s also hinted at a 2025 release period for the game but could not confirm the platforms it will arrive on if it exists. While this rumor should obviously be taken with a grain of salt, gamers who want a good reason to get high on Elder Scrolls hopium need look no further.

In the meantime, while we wait and see if this rumor comes to fruition, development trucks along on the Skyblivion mod, a complete remake of Oblivion in the Skyrim engine. Fan proj??ects like these rarely make it to the finish line, but this one seems set to break the formula.

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According to scientific theories, such as those in Popular Mechanics, it's estimated that the last particle in the known universe will decay after 10²⁰⁰ years (a long time, basically). However, I reckon people will still be modding Skyrim. You j?ust can't stop the unbridle?d tenacity of gamers.

Here's one more for all you hip cats to add to your TES5 loadout. Remember when ninjas were all the rage in pop culture? Well, Nexus Mods user Q10isarobot is bringing them to Skyrim. Replacing the rebellious Forsworn, these NPCs now ?know kung fu. Or somethi??ng like that.

This mod ?changes all the Forsworn outfits for the more traditional ninja getup. This also includes giving them weapons worthy of any? stealth warrior. Check them out in the video above, although it's pretty clear the player is more than capable of dispatching them. Look at all that blood!

Nin-ja or Nin-nein?

The reason why the Forsworn have been replaced with ninjas is, according to Q10isarobot, because they "fight kinda like ninjas and hang out in clans so I think it fits well in the game." Makes sense, though they do admit they're not a lore expert when it comes to Skyrim.

This also looks like a good mod for anyone who doesn't want to interrupt their current save file. The creator says it just replaces the mesh, so it's "safe to install or uninstall," a?nd also doesn't require an ESP file for expanding scripting.

Right. Okay. We've played and modded The Elder Scrolls 5 for quite a long time now. When's the sixth game coming out? No, I will not stop harpin?g on about thi??s.

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One of the key things about Skyrim �?indeed, about thousands of games �?is getting to live out the life of a capable hero. All that questing sure goes a long way to maxing out your skills while you explore vast?? worlds. But what if �???hear me out �?someone else could do it for you?

Say hello to Skyrim Outbound Shipments by user Eudalus, a mod for TES5 that allows you to employ the help of a, shall we say, lesser person to c?arry out certain duties. Namely, by finishing quests for a small fee. After all, the Dragonborn has more important things to be getting on with. Romancing Lydia, for example.

Why carry that important item all the way back to whoever sent you out for it when you can pay a courier to do it in your stead? What thi??s mod does, essentially, is let yo?u hire an NPC to "progress or complete quests by delivering quest items or messages for you."

You'll still reap the benefits

Of course, you'll still get the rewards and possibly the kudos as well. According to the mod's description, any monetary remunerati??on you're owed for the quest will be delivered to you by the courier within six to 36 hours.

There are a couple of price tiers, though, depending on what you want the hired help to achieve. Eudalus says most jobs will fall under "normal delivery," which costs 10 gold coins by default. For more complex quests, you'll pay "hazard delivery," which is three times the normal rate, but does include hiring the courier to trek dangerous territory, such ?as Castle Volkihar.

The mod is still being worked on, so there may be a few issues with compatibility when it comes to others that you may have installed. Also, not all the quest??s are supported, such as ones that reward skill poi??nts, but it looks like Eudalus is going to keep working on it.

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The Elder Scrolls has been a pretty big part of my gaming life for many years, and now the series has officially turned thirty years old. It's not only the biggest IP Bethesda has ever put out, but?? it's considered by many to be one of the best role-playing franchises of all time.

What will Todd Howard and the rest of the team be doing to celebrate this milestone? It's hard to say at this stage. Nothing's been said on social media at the time of writing, but with parts of the world still waking up, the Elder Scrolls developer wi?ll no doubt be marking this pretty?? significant occasion.

Three decades is a long time for any series to maintain, but even more difficult in terms of remaining popular and lucrative. Of course, of those 30 years, more than Skyrim accounts for more than 12 of them.

Funnily enough, there is a short update on "the next chapter" of Elder Scrolls, which is the upcoming Elder Scrolls 6 (TES VI). Th??e team notes how "even now, returning to Tamriel and playing early builds has us fille??d with the same joy, excitement, and promise of adventure."

Can you choose a favorite Elder Scrolls game?

To get a little nostalgic here: I have fond memories of playing Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall after seeing my friend play it on his PC and deciding I wanted a piece of that action. While the series began with Arena on March 2??5, 1994, it was the follow-up two years later that put Bethesda on the RPG map.

Daggerfall was massive, encompassing an area roughly the size of Great Britain. That may pale in comparison to today's standards, but such a scale was almost unthinkable back then. Remember that PC gaming was still in its infancy (Doom had only come out the year before Arena).

Then Morrowind came along in 2002 and just absolutely blew everything else out of the water. Oh man, that game was a joy to walk around in, with its advanced graphics and near-perfect role-playing elements. Yeah, it's aged terribly over the years, but many still consider it the best Elder Scrolls game of all time.

Fast-forward to now and we're still wondering where the next installment is. If you're like me, you were probably banking on Bethesda saying a few words about TES6 not long after Starfield was released. The latter has only been out a few months, but I feel we're ??not far from some sort of update about the former. The legacy must continue!

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Morrowind is just one of those games I'll always go back to. While Skyrim reigns supreme as the most successful Elder Scrolls game, the third installment in Bethesda's series still draws? me in. And that's to say nothing about the mods that?? keep it alive.

For example, if I wanted to release my inner creativity, I could opt for "Write Books and Scrolls," a seemingly simple download that lets you loose on the blank pages of Morrowind.

Brought to us by Nexus Mods user MomokeCome, it allows players to write their own scrolls and books within the world of TES3. Blank versions can be purchased from sellers, at which point you can put quill t?o paper and "wr??ite your own title and text."

Eat your heart out, Salman Rushdie

Okay, maybe I'm over-romanticizing it a bit. But when it comes to fantasy RPGs, not many people think to allow someone to become an in-game writer. We're all about having immense storie?s with rich lore, but this mod gives us the chance to craft some of our own.

The download page doesn't say whether the blank scrolls and books come with character or word limits, though. Anyone who's played Morrowind and has ch??ecked out the sheer breadth of literature available will know that some novels and history books can go on for a few pages.

I could wax lyrical about how I would use the mod to pen the great Elder Scrolls tale. Truth is, I'd probably just?? u??se it to remind my character to pick up more ash yams while in Balmora.

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Look, I'm just going to say it. I haven't played Baldur's Gate 3 yet. I know, I know. The fact that it’s won so many awards should clue me into just how much of a gaming phenomenon it is. However, what I am really into is The Elder Scrolls series, and a recent m??od is making my ears pr??ick up.

Over on Nexus Mods, user Ghouls0Rules has made it possible to play Baldur's Gate 3 as a Dunmer, the dark elf race from such hits as Morrowind and Skyrim. While it has a "heavy focus on visuals," it ??go??es beyond a simple skin and texture swap.

It also comes with additional features. The download page says it has "unique passives and spells," as well as "some level progression for each subrace." So this is more than just about looking like a TES character, as it has function too. You can get the mod from here. It actually came out in December, but I was too busy with Christmas and not playing BG3 to spot it at the time.

Feels like it fits, thematically

Gaming definitely had its ups and downs across the whole of 2023. While the industry experienced a lot of job losses and studio closures, Larian's Baldur's Gate 3 was definitely a high point.

It's currently flying high on the Steam top-sellers list, albeit it's now been pushed down one spot by Counter-Strike 2. Given the RPG's prestige, it's likely to be riding this success wave for some time. The fact that it's the ninth most played game in terms of peak concurrent players �?according to SteamDB �?should tell you everything.

And yet, I still need to get in on it. I don't really have any excuse, and as a long-time fan of The Elder Scrolls games, I have even?? less of one, thanks to this mod.

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Skyrim and the whole Elder Scrolls series provides a near-infinite potential for modding. Some fan projects �?such as Tamriel Rebuilt �?expand on the or?iginal games and lore, and one other monstr??ous endeavor has been making great progress.

In the most recent developer video diary, the Skyrim Rebuilt team has shown off the work that's so far been carried out in expanding Cyrodiil, the region where Oblivion takes place. Over the course of 35 minutes, we ??get to see exactly what's been implemented and what's left to do.

For example: the city of Skingrad has had nearly all 33 interiors finalized and all 86 NPCs and 108 scenes have been completed, with focus now shifting to finishing quests?. It's quite astounding the work that's been put in by the team, yet there's still lots to be done.

What is Skyrim Rebuilt?

It should be noted that this massive project is not a recreation of Oblivion inside Skyrim's engine. Instead, Skyrim Rebuilt will encompass a complete expansion of the continent of Tamriel which will allow you to travel to regions from the other TES games. Cyrodiil is just one of the many provinces th?at's being w?orked on.

This means that The Elder Scrolls 4's story will not be present as the region is part of Skyrim's lore and history (i.e. 200 years after Oblivion). This also means there are numerous changes, with the most notable one being the complete recreation of Kvatch, the settlement that's been destroyed in TES4.

As for when it will be released, the team is unable to give an answer. You can already download the city of Bruma if you want to get a taste of what's been worked on, but as you can imagine, a project like this is going to take a long time to complete. And it's been in development since 2012. The team is interested in volunteers if you have the skills to help out.

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When you think of Christmas, you probably don't think of Morrowind. And why would you? With its fantasy folklore and cursed Ashlands, it's not a fictional universe ripe for December joy. But that doesn't mean you can't be an outlander and not get into the spirit of the season.

To get all of us in the mood for the holidays, Nexus Mods user Danae123 has created an in-game advent calendar for Morrowind. Consisting of one gift per day, it gives you th??e chance to have a littl?e festive joy up to December 24.

Yes??, I'm aware that we're now seven days int??o the month. That's on me for not spotting this sooner. But you can still claim a gift-a-day from a secret cabin for the rest of the time period.

Candy canes and moon sugar

For obvious reasons, Danae123 does?n't say what the advent gifts are each day. You wo??uldn't want to spoil the surprise now, would you?

As for how you can collect your presents, when asked on the mod page, a user was told that it's a "vanilla cabin on Solstheim that you are sent to during the Moon Sugar Mystery quest." Given this, you'll need to make sure you have the Bloodmoon expansion installed at the very least, as this is the only way to get access to the Morrowind island.

While many are still playing Skyrim, it's nice to see that the classic Elder Scrolls games are still getting some love. They might not officially celebrate Christmas on the Dunmer island of Vvardenfell, but that shouldn't stop you from wearing? a Christmas smile as you slash throug??h Nix Hounds and bandits.

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When questing across the realm of Cyrodiil in Oblivion, it can be easy to forget that even the Hero of Kvatch might ?enjoy a snack. However, if you're sick of wheels of cheese and shiny, green apples, a couple of people have made it possible to eat something far more enjoyable.

If you've got that craving for some in-game pizza, hrodeberht1 and bella over on Nexus Mods may have just what you need. Their "Necro Pizza Cyrodiil" mod adds in a deli??very service that gives you the option to order your character a hot, cheesy dish of the good stuff.

The above video shows how it works. Basically, it adds a pizza menu to your inventory where you get to pick from six different types of 'za (that's right, I said it). Upon pl??acing the order, your food is sent to you by a Necromancer, where it's delivered by a skeleton who proclaims the delivery comple??te upon receiving it.

Shame it's not real

This is actually similar to another mod they did back in 2021 which allows the Dragonborn to order a pizza while roaming around in �?you guessed it �?Skyrim. There's also this one from a different modder that allows you to order a real pizza directly through Oblivion. So...pizza is very much something that's been missing in The Elder Scrolls this whole time.

While at this point many would now consider it quite an old game, The Elder Scrolls 4 is an absol??ute classic in Bethesda's lo?ng-running series.

However, if you want a way of playing a more up-to-date version of Oblivion, there is an unofficial remake called Skyblivion that's curren?tly in the works. However, that's not due out until probably 2025, so you?'ve definitely got time to grab some pizza while you wait.

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Leave it to the modding community to combine things from well-known franchises into one package. We've already seen Doctor Who's Daleks come to Doom, and now someone is creating something that will please fans of both Morrowind and World of Warcraft.

As spotted by DSO Gaming, Nexus Mods user Tel Shadow is in the midst of what sounds like a pretty lofty project. Called "World of Morrocraft," it does exactly what it says on the tin, in that it brings in aspects of WoW into TES3.

As the description says: "This project aims to add the world of Azeroth to Tamriel," with the continent of Northrend b??eing the first to be developed. Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor are? seemingly next on the list. The mod will, in its totality, be a new landmass, complete with "handcrafted exteriors and interiors, new NPCs, creatures, and quests."

Adding custom weather as well

You can download the mod in its current state if you want to check it out. Looking at the images, World of Warcraft fans will likely recognize the areas that have been recreated in Morrowind. I haven't played WoW myself (I know, ?I know..."where have I been," etc.) so I can't say ho??w accurate they are to the source material.

In any case, it's a pretty big project for one person to take on, especially in an unofficial capacity.?? The modding community is s??imply teeming with a lot of dedicated people willing to pull off things like this. It's honestly pretty impressive.

While The Elder Scrolls 3 is now more than 20 years old, people like Tel Shadow show there's still a lot of love to give. On top of that, there's the unofficial remake Skywind to look forward to as well.

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Amidst all the remakes that are crowding the current gaming market, Skyblivion is definitely one to look out for. While there's still some time until we can expect a proper release date, the team behind the ambitious Oblivion remake has released a hair-raising video update.

Over on YouTube, the unofficial fan remake of TES4 lets its cape down to bring a more sinister vibe in promoting Skyblivion. The video showcases some of the darker and scarier elements of this Oblivion reimagining.

Among other things, we get a glimpse of some areas that have been given a new spit shine in Skyrim's engine, including Hackdirt and Arkved’s Tower. We also get a look at some new monsters that? have been made specifically for this project. There's even a quest walkthrough, as well.

When is it coming out?

At the moment, there's no definite release window for Skyblivion yet, outside a likely 2025 launch. It is, after all, quite the undertaking, completely reimagining Oblivion in Skyrim's engine. Volunteers are a??lways welcome as well, if you do want to lend a hand.

We've seen in the past that the remake is coming along nicely, and with each update we get, we move closer to the ?project becoming available.

Having started back in 2012, the fan remake has been in development for over 13 years at this point. However, it's looking more and more like it's going to be worth it in the end. You'll also be pleased to know that it'll be completely free, providing you have legitimate copies of Oblivion and Skyrim (natch).

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Years into development, there's still no sign of when Skywind will see the light of day. However, the team behind the fan remake of Morrowind has shared what was technically a H?alloween t?easer.

Showing the spookier side of this unofficial project, we get another glimpse of Skywind in its current state (thanks, DSO Gaming). Here we have a small taste of some of the more unsettling creat?ures that will await us, as and when it comes out.

As for a release date, we still don't have one. We've been ??????????????????????????treated to gameplay footage in the past, but there's no sign of the "total conversion mod" being made available just yet. For?? now, enjoy the spooks in the teaser. Admittedly two days after Halloween, but that's my bad for not spotting it sooner.

A quick reminder of what the project is

Skywind is a complete reimagining of The Elder Scrolls 3 which is being built in Bethesda's Creation Engine. In this sense, it's actually more of a Skyrim mod than a Morrowind remake, but the end result is pretty much the same thin?g.

The team has been working on it for quite some time. In fact, it's difficult to even pinpoint when the project officially began, but the FAQ says it's about as old as TES5.

It's probably best to also point out that while this sounds very much like Skyblivion �?the unofficial remake of Oblivion done in Skyrim �?the two are being helmed by different teams. If you're interested in helping out the Skyrind crew, they're always on the lookout for volunteers.

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As long as there is Morrowind, there will be mods for it. However, Tamriel Rebuilt ?is something else; the combination of fan commitment, ??and now the project has just released another expansion.

Called "Andaram," this latest update adds even more to the ambitious TES3 mod. A trailer on YouTube gives a taste of what's been added, and details say the new area fea?tures, "over 100 quests and 9 faction questlines, including a new vampire clan and the highly anticipated Andothren Thieves Guild."

According to the website, this represents the seventh?? major expansion for the project, which this area being loc?ated by the Thirr River.

So what is Tamriel Rebuilt, exactly?

Generally regarded as the smallest game in the base Elder Scrolls entries, Morrowind only really incorporates the island of Vvardenfe??ll, ignoring the rest of the mainland.

It's a bit like if you were to make a game that was set in the United Kingdom, but only mapped out Ireland. What Tamriel Rebuilt does is add in the Elder Scrolls equivalent of England, Wales, and Scotland. At least, that's my take ??on it.

The fan project technically began before Morrowind was officially released and has been in development ever since. According to the Wiki, around half of the mainland is now p??layable, and more is being worked on all?? the time.

The mod is free to download and try, which makes me wonder why I haven't played it myself yet. Also, if you're interested in helping out, the team is always looking for people to join Tamriel Rebuilt in a number of capacities.

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At this point, it's safe to say that people are ready for The Elder Scrolls 6. While we're likely still years away from playing it, it feels as though Bethesda will start putting more stock into the Skyrim follow-up now that Starfield is out.

With that in-mind, a recent interview with MinnMax suggests that some elements from previous TES games will make their way into the sixth installment. Former Bethesda employee Bruce Nesmith �?who was lead designer for Skyrim �?has said that elements that go as far back as Oblivion could be "further developed" for The Elder Scrolls 6.

That part??icular part of the interview ?begins around the one-hour 13-minute mark.

However, Nesmith is not certain what these aspects will be. He do??es add that we will find his "fingerprints" in the next installment based on how the games have been designed in the past and his ??impact on the series.

It's a kind of magic

Nesmith then goes on to say that TES6 will likely have traces of the magical elements from Skyrim. So if you like the magic system in TES5, that's somethi??ng to perhaps look forward to (maybe).

Bruce had been involved with the Elder Scrolls franchise since 1996's Daggerfall, eventually becoming Senior Game Designer for Bethesda. He was also a quest designer for Fallout 3. If you've played a Bethesda RPG since the mid-90s, you'll have experienced Nesmith's input. These days, he's a fantasy novelist. His first novel, Mischief Maker: Norse Mythology Reimagined, was released in 2021.

As for The Elder Scrolls 6, we're still pretty much in the dark. Nesmith's comments seem largely speculative, so it's best not to take what he says as the final word in what the elusive Skyrim follow-up will be like.

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Given the current hype surrounding Starfield, you're never too far away from a discussion of all things related to Bethesda, including The Elder Scrolls 6. We all know that it's likely years until the Skyrim follow-up sees the light? of day, but at what stage of ?development is it currently at?

According to an interview on the Spanish website Vandal with Bethesda's head of publishing Pete Hines, the studio has actually started work on TES6 prope?r. Right at the very end, when asked about whether the upcoming RPG was still in the concept phase, Hines confirms that development on the game is ?underway.

//youtu.be/OkFdqqyI8y4

However, there's always a proviso. He goes on to say that it's in "early development" (according to translation by GameSpot) which p??retty much confirms what many of us suspected anyw?ay.

Probably won't hear much else for a long while

A little further up in the interview, Hines makes it clear that while there have been people working on TES6, the focus for Bethesda right now has been Starfield. As such, it's possible that resources may shift to the long-awaited Elder Scrolls game once the latter is out, though that's pure?? spe??culation on our part.

It's nice to know that development has begun, even if it's still in the early stages. However, there's a good chance we won't hear much about it for a while. But then, we? have? sort of grown accustomed to that by now.

It's been five years since the studio announced The Elder Scrolls 6, originally showing the above teaser footage at E3 2018. We've heard pretty much nothing since, but hopefully things will move a little quicker soon after Starfield's launch.

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Look, everybody's talking about Starfield. And even if they're not, the conversation is never far away from something Bethesda-adjacent. Case in point: there's been some new footage released of Skyblivion, the upcoming fan remake of Oblivion.

Uploaded to the Heavy Burns YouTube channel,?? we're treated to 20 minutes of gameplay from the upcoming project, which was showcased at this year's Creation Mod Con. In the video, we get to see the Hero of Kvatch engaging in one o??f the game's many side quests.

//youtu.be/KJ1iqsKKMSo

More specifically, it's the Mazoga the Orc mission that begins in Leyawiin Castle. As in the original game, the quest plays out as normal, complete with the OG voice acting. The major difference here, obviously, is that the Skyblivion version is visually different, ?thanks to it b??eing done in the Creation Engine.

The Skyrim DNA is definitely there as well, such as the compass and quest markers. Not to mention the animations an??d character models, but it still plays out like the classic 2006 game.

So what is Skyblivion?

If you're not familiar with this project, Skyblivion is essentially a full remake of The Elder Scrolls 4, but done in Skyrim's engine. The t??eam has been painstakingly (and voluntarily) recreating the entire RPG using somewhat more up-t?o-date software.

While the Creation Engine is still very much a Bethesda thing (version 2.0 is being used to develop Starfield), it's now considered quite dated when compared to modern standards. Having said that, it's a step up from Oblivion's Gamebryo engine which, according to Wikipedia, hasn't been used to make a game since 2011.

As for Skyblivion itself, it does look better in this engine. It's still quintessentially Oblivion, but that extra boost in vis?uals giv?es it somewhat of a facelift. The modders themselves have been tirelessly working on it for years, and the end may be in sight.

The video says the game is aiming for a 2025 release. If you want to help out, the team is still taking on additional volunteers. You can also check out the website for more details.

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We all remember the Adoring Fan from The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. He was �?let's not mince words here �?a monstrously irritating NPC, and n??ow someone taken that monstrosity and actualized it in physical form.

Over on Nexus Mods, user theocddragon simply asks "good heavens what have I done" with a modification for Oblivion that turns everyone's favorite Wood Elf to hate into an unholy sight. Seriously, it's like if the Adoring Fan was rejected from Tim Burton's Beetlejuice for being too odd.

[caption id="attachment_396762" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image via theocddragon/Nexus Mods.[/caption]

Editing the character model, the modder has reconstructing the NPC's face using a dragging tool that has resulted in the severe?ly morphed image of this once annoying–though wholly innocent–citizen of Cyrodiil.

Kill it with three fires

Describing it as an "eldritch abomination with one singular eye," theocddragon has unleashed a nightmare unto the Oblivion community and those who witness it. They even question why someone would be able to wield such power in editing ?soft??ware.

It kind of reminds me of the pre-menu screen in Super Mario 64, in which �?perhaps in a bid to show the power of the N64 console �?you could stretch and morph Mario's face. It, too, produ??ced some horrifying i?mages that are not of this world.

That aside, it does show just how beloved Oblivion in the community, even after 17 years. The Bethesda RPG has definitely aged as time has gone by, but that's where Skyblivion comes into the picture.

This is a fan-made project that will be a complete remake of TES4 done in Skyrim's engine. As such, we'll get a much prettier (though perhaps not visually up-to-date) version of Oblivion. Let's just hope the Adoring Fan will not be the facial atrocity he is in theoc?ddrago's mod.

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Kick 'em all to Sky-Bli-vion

If you haven't been keeping a close eye on the Oblivion/Skyrim modding community, you may have missed out on the progress of Skyblivion. The fan-made modification takes TES4 and rebuilds it in TES5's engine, and the scope of thi??s project is one for the ages. Now, the volunteers working on this unofficial remake has shared a new video that shows the current progress plus what's left to do.

The 10-minute footage over on YouTube is essentially a checklist of how much has been done on Skyblivion since work began in 2012. While there's still a way to go, So far the team has managed to map around 82% of Oblivion's world. On to??p of that, roughly 40% of the interiors have been done, a third of the "meshing" is now complete, and nearly 100 quests are described as "playable".

//youtu.be/H1q1nXLDjB8

The video also shows how much is still left, with a staggering amount of work still ahead for the modders. They're also calling out for additional help, so if you feel you have the skills and want to contribute towards Skyblivion's success, you can become a volunteer.

The team also recently celebrated eight years of continuous work that's gone into the project. As it stands, the fan remake is due to release sometime in 2025, so there are still a couple more years to go. The best thing about it is it'll be completely free. You just need official copies of both Skyrim and Oblivion, as well as the expansions.

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Possibly next-gen?

We're already painfully aware that Bethesda is taking its sweet time with The Elder Scrolls 6. However, there may be longer t??o wait still, as even the Head of Xbox Gaming, Phil Spencer, admits he doesn't even know what platform it's going to be on. There may be a few more years to go until the anticipated sequel ever sees the light of day.

And exactly how long are we talking? Well, according to journalist Stephen Totilo, (reporting on the Microsoft/Activision court case), Spencer npted that Elder Scrolls 6 could be "five-plus years away." If true, this would put the elusive Skyrim follow-up on track for a 2028 release at the earliest. As such, it could mean that the long-awaited Bethesda RPG is actually on deck for gaming's next generation.

//twitter.com/stephentotilo/stat??us/1672314548995366935

According to a recent report from The Verge, Spencer did say in a 2021 interview that it will be exclusive to Xbox, though it doesn't necessarily mean it will be this generation's Xbox. When questioned about this today, the executive doesn't recall ever making such a statement. And so, it stands, we're not really any closer to understanding what's happening with the next Elder Scrolls installment. A couple of years ago, Todd H?oward said the game was still in early development.

All we can really hope is that once Starfield is released this September, then Bethesda will be willing to spill a few more beans. We can assume that, for now?, the studio is just keeping its cards close to its chest.

The post The Elder Scrolls 6 could still be ‘five-plus’ years away appeared first on Destructoid.

Oblivion in Skyrim's engine - what's not to love?

While development is still going on, the team of volunteers behind the Skyrim/Oblivion mod Skyblivion has just a milestone, celebr??ating eight years of "non stop work". However, the dedicated modders are not through yet, though it's looking like the crew may be ready to launch sometime in 2025.

If you've been keeping an eye on the Skyblivion Twitter page, you'll have seen a series of screenshots go up, showing the current progress of the modification. Many have been hoping the Elder Scrolls fan project was nearing completion by now, but there's still a ways to go, it seems. But that's okay. It looks like it's goi??ng to be worth it.

//twit??ter.com/TES??RSkyblivion/status/1671071612718784513

For those of you who don't know, Skyblivion aims to bring a complete �?though unofficial �?remake of Oblivion to the Skyrim engine, thereby giving it a more modern look. Of course, at this point, TES5's Creation Engine is also showing its age, but it will still give the 17-year-old Bethesda RPG a fresh coat of paint. It is, after all, a mammoth task that's being made a that's being coordinated by some very passionate fans.

The fact that there's been continuous work on it for the past eight years puts the project back to 2015. However, according to the Skyblivion website, develo??pment officially started in 2012 with version 0.1. In 2014, the project entered a more stable phase, and things have been progressing since?? then.

The best part about it is it's going to be completely free once it releases. The only stipulation is that if you do want to play it, you'll need legitimate copies of both Skyrim and Oblivion, as well as all official DLCs. But that's a small price to pay for what's likely to be one of the most ambitious fan-made mods of all time. You can also join the Skyblivion Discord server to stay up to date.

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The closure of Bethesda's launcher apparently means free stuff

A few older pieces in Bethesda's back catalog are available on Steam for the low, low price of free. Several Elder Scrolls games, and a Wolfenstein entry too, are free on Steam right now.

The newfound freebie seems to be due to Bethesda's launcher going away later this year. As the company's own platform f??or ??launching plans to go down, its games are making their way onto Steam.

In the case of three, this means some free games. Those free Elder Scrolls and other games on Steam are:

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena
• The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
• Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory

And if those whet your appetite, two more Elder Scrolls games are on Steam for cheap:

• An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire
• The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard

Both of those are only $5.99, ready to sate any need for some retro Elder Scrolls.

De-launcher

All the games are likely coming over as part of the de-launch of the Bethesda launcher. The company recently released some extra info on how to migrate everything over, as the swi?tch flips today, April 27.

The migration tool goes live today and will allow users of the Bethesda launcher to transfer their games, progress, and wallet balance over to Steam. You'll have to re-download any games like Fallout 76 too, so keep that in mind.

Then, on May 11, the Bethesda launcher goes down. At that point, anyone who wants to pla?y one of those games will need to do so over on Steam or another platform.

There are some incentives for making the jump though, as everyone who migrates between April 27 and May 11 will get some rank-ups on Fallout 76's seasonal scoreboard. And honestly, having all the games in one launcher is pretty nice. Fewer launchers and steps between games makes it a little easier to boot into a one-off game of Enemy Territory.

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