In 2006, Bethesda was at the peak of its success following the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Eager to keep players engaged in the world of Cyrodiil, the studio began rolling out small, paid DLC packages. Little did they know, their first release would galvanize a gaming controversy that would echo for nearly two decades. Dropped in April of that year, the now-infamous Horse Armor Pack—priced at 200 Microsoft Points (roughly $2.50 on the Xbox 360 Marketplace)—sparked widespread backlash. Though downloadable content existed before, this particular DLC stood out for one key reason: the armor offered zero gameplay benefits. It was purely cosmetic, and at the time, charging real money for something so trivial felt like a bridge too far for many players.
Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Cosmetic monetization is now a standard practice across the industry, and Bethesda is embracing the shift with a knowing wink. With the surprise release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, the developer has once again included horse armor as a premium add-on—this time as part of the $10-upgraded Deluxe Edition. Alongside new quests, exclusive weapons, a digital artbook, and a soundtrack app, players get not one, but two sets of horse armor. The move is clearly a nod to the past, a self-aware callback to a moment that once defined corporate tone-deafness in gaming.
And this time, fans aren’t angry—they’re amused. Nearly 20 years on, the gaming community has evolved. Players now routinely spend on cosmetic upgrades, and the once-scandalous idea of paid horse armor has become a punchline, a cultural reference point. As analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. gamers spent over $10.4 billion on digital add-ons in 2024 alone. “Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run,” he remarked—a fitting epitaph for a piece of virtual tack that changed the industry.
Social media reactions reflect a mix of irony and respect. Many see the re-release as a cheeky tribute, a way for Bethesda to laugh at its own legacy.
PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0
— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025
Honestly I have to respect it. New players won't know this, but releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a subtle reference to when they singlehandedly ruined the industry by selling it the first time around. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX
— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025
£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr
— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025
The remaster isn’t just about nostalgia and satire—it’s already fostering a modding community. Within hours of launch, user-created mods began appearing on Nexus Mods, offering minor tweaks and customization options. While the full modding suite is still unfolding, the foundation is set.
As players dive back into Tamriel, you can explore our complete guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an Interactive Map, full Walkthroughs for the Main Quest and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and more.
Meanwhile, the community is already choosing their path:
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