"Oblivion Designer Praises Bethesda's Remaster as 'Oblivion 2.0'"

Senior game designer Bruce Nesmith, the creative force behind *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*, recently shared his thoughts on Bethesda and Virtuos’ latest release—*Oblivion Remastered*. His verdict? He's so impressed that he questions whether “remaster” is even the right word to describe what the team has accomplished.

Nesmith, who played a key role in crafting the original 2006 RPG experience, expressed genuine surprise during a recent interview with VideoGamer. He reflected on the immense effort that went into building the world of Cyrodiil from the ground up—and how surreal it feels to now see that world transformed.

Unlike previous re-releases, Bethesda didn't formally announce Oblivion Remastered ahead of its drop. Yet fans have been vocal in their praise for the depth of changes—from visual enhancements to core gameplay adjustments. Features like the new sprint mechanic and revamped leveling system have many suggesting that this goes far beyond a typical remaster. Nesmith agrees.

“The closest that could come [to categorizing it] is Oblivion 2.0,” he said. “That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure ‘remaster’ actually does it justice.”

In response to community reactions, Bethesda released a statement explaining their vision for the project. The studio clarified that its intention was never to create a full remake, but rather to modernize the classic experience while preserving the essence that longtime players cherish—including some of its more notorious quirks.

“We know many of our longtime fans will be thrilled to revisit Oblivion and the land of Cyrodiil,” Bethesda stated. “But there are also so many who have never played it. We can’t thank you enough for all the support you have given us and our games over the years. Our hope with this remaster is that no matter who you are, when you step out of the Imperial sewer—you feel like you’re experiencing it for the first time.”

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered launched as a surprise release from Bethesda and is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can access it without additional cost. For those eager to dive deeper, we offer a detailed guide covering everything from the expansive Interactive Map to full walkthroughs of the Main Quest and Guild Missions, character-building tips, and essential early-game strategies.