Although Bethesda and Microsoft have said little about the title, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is getting a remaster. It is odd to call the game a remaster, considering that it is being remade from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, and it is even stranger to many that the game has not been d prior to its release. It is reportedly getting shadow dropped some time in April, despite the size of the IP behind it and how big the original game is.

Compare this to other remakes (which the Oblivion remaster technically is) like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which got an announcement several years before its release to build up hype. In theory, it would be the right move to do the same for a title as big as Oblivion, but Microsoft has decided against this approach. Strangely, it has shadow-dropped successful games before, and it could lead on to future Elder Scrolls projects receiving news around the same time if the formula is followed.

The Mystery Around The Oblivion Remake Is Free Marketing

It Is Getting People Talking Regardless Of Trailers

Marketing is expensive, making trailers and big announcements at crowded events, but with a few leaks, Microsoft has the gaming industry talking constantly about the Oblivion remaster almost since 2025 started. A mystery, a few leaks, and everyone's talking, maybe even more than players would otherwise. This also allows people to get excited about the game without Microsoft receiving criticism before its release, should people look at the trailer and not like what they see.

It's a rather frugal way to build up hype, and with the game coming so quickly, it prevents that hype from getting out of hand, especially because other remakes, which the Oblivion remaster practically is, have been so good, like Resident Evil's, Final Fantasy's, and the Blue Point Games projects. Considering some of Microsoft's recent big acquisitions, saving money shouldn't be a surprise. It isn't as though this method hasn't been used before to some decent success.

Microsoft Has Shadow Dropped Other Projects Before

Elder Scrolls Could Repeat What Ninja Gaiden Has Done

Microsoft shadow-dropped successful games before, namely HI-Fi Rush and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is also a remake made in Unreal Engine 5, and its being shadow-dropped gave fans something to play out of the blue while helping to bolster the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4. An optimist could say that Microsoft will do the same with the Oblivion remaster, showing off new footage of Elder Scrolls 6 along with the launch of the remaster to build up hype for a dormant series.

Ninja Gaiden 4 will be developed by PlatinumGames, the developer behind hits like Nier: Automata and Bayonetta.

While it has worked for Ninja Gaiden and Microsoft isn't afraid of shadow-dropping, it hasn't ever done this before with a game of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion's size. While there is a chance it won't translate to sales, it can't be denied that the mystery of this shadow drop has got everyone talking. It isn't as though another Elder Scrolls game needs much marketing, considering how famous all the titles have become over the years and the practical immortality of Skyrim.