Skyblivion Team Gets Remaster Keys from Bethesda

The Elder Scrolls community is showing appreciation for Bethesda today, as the developer generously provided free game keys for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered to the entire team behind the popular fan modification, Skyblivion.

In a recent BlueSky post, the Skyblivion team shared the news of Bethesda's gesture with their followers. "As huge fans ourselves, we are incredibly thankful for the gift of Oblivion Remastered keys for our whole modding team! This gesture is deeply meaningful. Thank you for everything, Bethesda!"

Skyblivion is an upcoming fan-led recreation of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, developed by the volunteer TESRenewal modding group. It utilizes Bethesda's Creation Engine to rebuild Oblivion within the framework of its sequel, Skyrim. The project has been development for over a decade, starting as a basic port and evolving into a comprehensive remake with enhanced features and original additions. We spoke with a developer involved in the project back in 2021. Skyblivion is slated for release later this year.

Reports indicate that Bethesda and the Skyblivion team have historically maintained a positive relationship. However, as speculation about an official Oblivion remaster increased, some fans wondered if Bethesda was attempting to preempt the fan project with a similarly timed release. Ahead of today's announcement, the Skyblivion team released a statement to address these rumors. The team clarified that Bethesda has "consistently supported community projects like ours" and emphasized that "there is no need for direct comparisons or a competitive mindset" between the two releases.

It's worth noting that the official Oblivion Remastered does not include native mod support, though players have already begun creating a variety of unofficial mods shortly after launch. Each version also offers distinct experiences: Skyblivion, for example, is not available on consoles. Oblivion Remastered, meanwhile, does not feature the new and reimagined content promised by Skyblivion, but it does include the horse armor DLC for Deluxe Edition owners at launch. The two projects also differ in visual style and their approach to integrating elements from Skyrim into the Oblivion experience. Of course, Oblivion Remastered is available to play right now, while those eager for Skyblivion will need to wait a while longer.

In the meantime, you can explore why some players consider the new release more of a remake than a remaster and the reasoning behind Bethesda's choice of the "Remastered" title.

Our comprehensive guide covers everything in Oblivion Remastered, including a detailed Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Quest and all Guild Quests, tips on Building the Perfect Character, essential First Steps, and much more.