Bethesda returned to its 2006 RPG with Oblivion Remastered after deciding "what to modernize and what not to modernize," and it just "makes sense"

1. Games
2. RPGs
3. The Elder Scrolls
4. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Bethesda returned to its 2006 RPG with Oblivion Remastered after deciding "what to modernize and what not to modernize," and it just "makes sense" News By Kaan Serin Contributions from Ali Jones published 23 November 2025

"It speaks to the the sticking power of how that game is built," says Bethesda's studio director

Comments (0) ()

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

Bethesda Game Studios fans had already been returning to Oblivion on-and-off for years - though, not as frequently as some dip back into Skyrim - even before Bethesda put the 2006 RPG back in the limelight with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. But what is it that keeps people, and now the studio, coming back for seconds (and thirds and fourths)? Bethesda's studio director says it's because the game itself feels like it changes upon every revisit.

GamesRadar+ caught up with Tom Mustaine, BGS' studio director, at The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 to get his perspective on why Oblivion's enjoyed such a long shelf life. Mustaine's personal, anecdotal answer is that "every time I play the game, I end up doing something completely different, and I experience [new] things even after I've played it so many times - I'll go a different direction and have a different set of experiences." And that's despite knowing all of the game's tricks by memory.

"It speaks to the the sticking power of how that game is built," he continued, adding that returning to it via the remaster "was a little bit like opening an old chest, and going... 'Man, there's a lot of amazing elements in here that we built, you know, 20 years ago, and were built as best as they could be built back then.'"

You may like

• Skyrim's longevity shocked Bethesda devs as the RPG was thriving "still, ten years later" thanks to its unique open world: "By all rights, a year later, some other game should have eclipsed it"
• After Oblivion Remastered and Hi-Fi Rush, Bethesda Game Studios director wants more shadowdrops because "we all have short attention spans now"
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead says the RPG went up against "one of the biggest remasters" with Oblivion Remastered – but it worked out: "I feel like it makes us even more deserving in a way"

Developing the remaster almost two decades later was, for Bethesda, an opportunity to "put a fresh coat of paint on areas and make some conscious decisions about what to modernize and what not to modernize." After all, Oblivion wouldn't be half as memorable without the jank that lets villagers get into spontaneous fist fights, say.

"Those were some really interesting conversations and discussions [we] had, and it was tough," Mustaine added. "We internally were deciding, 'Do we want to do this or not?'" That was before the team decided that it just "makes sense," as long as "we're not stepping on the legacy [and] we're not breaking the game."

After Oblivion Remastered and Hi-Fi Rush, Bethesda Game Studios director wants more shadowdrops because "we all have short attention spans now"

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES Xbox Series X PS5 PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation Kaan SerinFreelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

With contributions from

• Ali JonesManaging Editor, News

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Skyrim's longevity shocked Bethesda devs as the RPG was thriving "still, ten years later" thanks to its unique open world: "By all rights, a year later, some other game should have eclipsed it"    After Oblivion Remastered and Hi-Fi Rush, Bethesda Game Studios director wants more shadowdrops because "we all have short attention spans now"    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead says the RPG went up against "one of the biggest remasters" with Oblivion Remastered – but it worked out: "I feel like it makes us even more deserving in a way"    "The great Todd Howard says that great games are played, not made," according to Bethesda's Pete Hines, so Elder Scrolls devs changed Oblivion combat three times and no one spoke about it    After 4 months, Oblivion Remastered falls to "Mixed" reviews on Steam after reports of "poor and unstable" performance on PC: "It is still well and truly a Bethesda game"    After 13 years, the fan-led Oblivion remake developed in Skyrim's engine – Skyblivion – is right around the corner: "Recent developments made us come closer to a potential date announcement"    Latest in The Elder Scrolls After Oblivion Remastered and Hi-Fi Rush, Bethesda Game Studios director wants more shadowdrops because "we all have short attention spans now"    Elder Scrolls 6 fans yearn for news as Skyrim turns 14, instead get Todd Howard saying it's "still a long way off" despite being announced 7 years ago: "Bethesda has had us hanging by a thread"    The Elder Scrolls 6 "might" get an Oblivion-style shadow drop if Bethesda leaves it up to increasingly mysterious Todd Howard: "I like to just announce stuff and release it"    "We wanted to do something new with Starfield": 14 years after Skyrim with no Elder Scrolls 6 in sight, Todd Howard finally admits it's been "too long" since the last RPG    The Elder Scrolls 6 is "still a long way off," Todd Howard says, but Bethesda is working on it more often than Fallout 76: "We did a big play test yesterday"    Mod team's unhinged quest to port The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind into Elden Ring is "almost already at full parity" for NPCs: "Damn, this project has hands"    Latest in News Bethesda returned to its 2006 RPG with Oblivion Remastered after deciding "what to modernize and what not to modernize," and it just "makes sense"    Christopher Nolan almost came close to directing an ancient epic before The Odyssey, but got Batman Begins instead    Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar praises director Chloé Zhao's involvement in the revival     Noah Centineo close to boarding Gundam movie with Sydney Sweeney    Daredevil: Born Again season 2 newcomer Matthew Lillard shares more details on his secret character that will be causing Fisk trouble    Eddie Murphy has three iconic movies he regrets turning down    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
2. 2This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving
3. 3Kirby Air Riders review: "This racer is also equal parts fighting game, minigame collection, and roguelike – and I'm shocked at how well that works"
4. 4Demonschool review: "This Persona-inspired RPG is full of fun, flair, and ready to chomp away at your free time"
5. 5Morsels review: "The Binding of Isaac style roguelike shooting gets somehow grosser, but struggles to set itself apart"

1. 1Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
2. 2The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
3. 3Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
4. 4Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
5. 5Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"

1. 1Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
2. 2The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
3. 3IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
4. 4Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
5. 5Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"