"Oblivion Remake Details Leak Online"

Rumors are swirling around a potential remake of *The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion*, reportedly set for a 2025 release. A leak, allegedly from a former employee at Virtuos, a video game support studio, has surfaced online, detailing what could be in store for this much-anticipated project. Despite Microsoft's silence on the matter when approached by IGN, the information suggests a comprehensive overhaul rather than a simple remaster.

According to the leak, Virtuos is using Unreal Engine 5 to recreate Bethesda’s beloved open-world RPG, hinting at a significant upgrade in graphics and gameplay mechanics. The reported changes include updates to Stamina, Sneak, Blocking, Archery, Hit Reactions, and the user interface (HUD). Specifically, the Blocking system has been revamped with inspiration from action games and Soulslikes, aiming to address the original's "boring" and "frustrating" mechanics. Sneak mechanics have reportedly been enhanced with highlighted icons and revamped damage calculations. Stamina depletion's impact on knockdowns is said to be harder to trigger, and the HUD has been redesigned for clarity. Additionally, hit reactions have been added for clearer feedback, and Archery has been modernized for both first and third-person views.

The idea of an *Oblivion* remaster first emerged in 2023 during the FTC vs. Microsoft trial over the Activision Blizzard acquisition, where documents listed several unannounced Bethesda projects. These included an *Oblivion Remaster* slated for financial year 2022, alongside other titles like an *Indiana Jones* game. However, the timeline has shifted, with some projects delayed or canceled. Notably, *Doom Year Zero* has been rebranded as *Doom: The Dark Ages*, and the *Indiana Jones and the Great Circle* game didn't launch until December 2024. The *Oblivion* project, initially labeled a remaster, may have evolved into a full-blown remake.

With Microsoft now embracing multiplatform releases, the *Oblivion* remake might expand beyond PC, Xbox, and PlayStation to include the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Leaker NateTheHate suggests a June release for the remake, which could align with the Switch 2's launch window, as reported.

Next week's Xbox Developer Direct will feature more on *Doom: The Dark Ages* from id Software, but it seems unlikely that *Oblivion* will be unveiled there. Instead, Microsoft has teased a new game from a mystery developer, rumored to be a new entry in a legendary Japanese IP, according to Windows Central’s Jez Corden.