The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remains one of the best games in the series and one of Bethesda's greatest RPGs. It is an engrossing experience thanks to a compelling narrative, great worldbuilding, and enjoyable progression. However, like a lot of RPGs from the early 2000s, it is very much stuck in the past, lacking a lot of the innovations the genre has undergone over the past few years. As a result, returning to Oblivion can often feel like a bit of a chore, especially for those who never played it as a child, or at least when it came out.

Fortunately, a short while ago, rumors of an Oblivion remake being developed by Virtuos, a team best known for ing other studios and developing the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, began circulating the internet. Most of these rumors were fairly credible, and since then, they've not stopped. However, the latest, which comes from a reputable source, claims that the Oblivion remake is coming out very soon, despite it still not officially existing, and that could be a problem.

The Rumored Oblivion Remake Is Apparently Coming In April

It Will Be Shadow Dropped

Originally, it was rumored that the Oblivion remake would drop in June 2025. However, according to prominent leaker huge surrounding the Oblivion remake.

Of course, like with all rumors, this should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, there has been absolutely no official confirmation of an Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake anywhere. Nevertheless, considering just how compelling the evidence of its existence is, coupled with Nate the Hate's pretty strong track record and past reliable information, it would seem that this is a likely outcome. However, this seems like an incredibly risky move, especially as not only is April already a stacked month for video games, but Oblivion is a far lesser-known quantity than some may believe.

April Is A Very Busy Month For Games

Expedition 33, South Of Midnight, And More Are Releasing

There are a lot of games releasing in April, including the hotly-anticipated Xbox-produced, South of Midnight, and the day-one Game release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While these are the two biggest games, at the very least Expedition 33 is a direct competitor to an Oblivion remake as it is one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2025. They have had a significant amount of promotion, including from Xbox, as both appeared during its Developer Direct. Of course, not everyone will pick these up, and South of Midnight will be a relatively short game.

However, that isn't taking into consideration the games releasing in March, including Assassin's Creed Shadows and Atomfall, both of which are releasing at the tail end of the month. People are still playing Monster Hunter Wilds and likely will be well into April, and there are also several lower-profile games releasing throughout April. While this is the case every month, the key difference here is that an Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake has had absolutely no marketing. People have been getting ready to buy these aforementioned games for a while, so no one will have budgeted for an Oblivion remake.

Bethesda Should Hype Up The Oblivion Remake

It Needs To Take The Time To Introduce It To New Fans

While shadow-dropping a game can work with certain titles, especially cheaper indies like Hi-Fi Rush, it seems like a bad option for a remake of an old game. Of course, there is brand recognition already, which will do some of the heavy lifting, but players will want to know how this remake differs from the original, see gameplay showcasing all the new features, learn about any potential new story details, and generally get hyped for it. This is how Monolith Soft approached its remasters - which were essentially remakes - of both Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles X.

By releasing immediately after the announcement, players won't have enough information to pick it up on a whim, especially as a remake can often change aspects of a game that players liked. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is also nearly 20 years old, which means a lot of people likely haven't played or even have an affinity for Oblivion. They need to know why they're buying a remake of such an old RPG and not the newer ones releasing right now, and a long marketing campaign can help with that.

It isn't clear why Xbox and Bethesda feel it best to shadow-drop the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake if that is what they are doing. It could be to beat the fan-made Oblivion remake or because they don't have faith in it, and investing heavily in a marketing campaign would be a waste of money. Of course, that is pure speculation, but worth discussing nonetheless. Regardless, shadow-dropping The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in April is a mistake, and one that could cost the game a lot if the audience isn't as invested in it as Bethesda may be hoping.

Source: Nate The Hate/X