Rumors are swirling around the internet about a highly anticipated remake of *The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion*, slated for a 2025 release. According to Mp1st, details of this unannounced project were inadvertently leaked by a former employee at Virtuos, a video game support studio. When IGN reached out to Microsoft for a statement, the company declined to comment.

Mp1st suggests that Virtuos is behind a complete overhaul of Bethesda's beloved open-world RPG, utilizing the powerful Unreal Engine 5. This indicates a significant rework, going beyond a simple remaster. The leak also mentions gameplay enhancements, including modifications to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reaction, and the heads-up display (HUD).

Reportedly, the Blocking system was revamped with influences from action games and Soulslikes, as the original was deemed too "boring" and "frustrating." Sneak icons are now supposedly more prominent, and damage calculations have been revamped. Triggering a knockdown from depleted Stamina is said to be more challenging. The HUD has been redesigned for better clarity, hit reactions have been added for more responsive gameplay, and Archery has been modernized in both first and third-person perspectives.

The idea of an Oblivion remaster first surfaced in 2023 when documents from the FTC versus Microsoft trial regarding the Activision Blizzard acquisition revealed several unannounced Bethesda projects. A list compiled in July 2020, before Microsoft's purchase of ZeniMax Media in March 2021, included:

• Financial year 2022: Oblivion Remaster, Indiana Jones game
• Financial year 2023: Doom Year Zero and DLC, Project Kestrel, Project Platinum
• Financial year 2024: The Elder Scrolls 6, Project Kestrel: Expansion, Licensed IP Game, Fallout 3 Remaster, Ghostwire: Tokyo Sequel, Dishonored 3, DOOM Year Zero DLC

Many of these projects faced delays or cancellations. Notably, Doom Year Zero has been rebranded as Doom: The Dark Ages and is set to launch this year, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was released in December 2024. The Elder Scrolls 6 did not meet its financial year 2024 target.

The focus now shifts to the Oblivion remake, which was originally listed as a remaster in Microsoft's documents. It's possible that the project evolved into a more ambitious remake. We await Bethesda's official announcement to clarify what has become one of gaming's worst-kept secrets.

As for the platforms, Microsoft is now committed to multiplatform releases, hinting at a broader launch for the Oblivion remake. With the anticipated arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, the game might be available on more than just PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Leaker NateTheHate suggests the Oblivion remake could launch in June, potentially aligning with the Switch 2's rumored release window.

Microsoft has scheduled an Xbox Developer Direct for next week, where id Software, a ZeniMax-owned studio, will share more details on Doom: The Dark Ages. There's also a tease about a new game from a mystery developer, but it's unlikely to be Oblivion. Windows Central's Jez Corden hinted that the game is "a new entry in a legendary Japanese IP which has decades of history, and should make a lot of fans happy."