Oblivion Remastered Release Gets Original Dev to Admit World-Scale Leveling Was a Mistake

Discover the insights of an original developer on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and its remastered version, where he reflects on the game's world-scale leveling system and the significant updates made for modern audiences.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Changes Applauded by Former Dev

World-Scale Leveling Remains in Oblivion Remastered

In an insightful discussion with VideoGamer, Bruce Nesmith, a designer behind the original Oblivion, expressed his regret over the inclusion of the world-scale leveling system, which has been retained in the remastered version. Nesmith, who has also contributed to Fallout 3, Skyrim, and Starfield, praised the adjustments made to the leveling system in Oblivion Remastered, noting that it now aligns more closely with the mechanics seen in Skyrim. This change allows players to gain XP across all skill lines, making the game more accessible and enjoyable for today's gamers.

However, Nesmith critiqued the decision to keep the world-scale leveling feature, where enemies scale with the player's level. He remarked, "I think the world leveling with you was a mistake and that’s proven out by the fact it did not happen the same way in Skyrim." This system, which has been a point of contention since the game's initial release in 2006, prompted fans to develop mods to alter it. With the remaster, the community has once again stepped up to address this issue.

Oblivion Remastered is More Than Just a Remaster

The remastering of Oblivion has exceeded expectations, going far beyond mere texture updates. Nesmith, in another interview with VideoGamer, was astounded by the extent of the remastering efforts, stating, "[It’s] a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice."

Bethesda's commitment to the project is evident in their use of Unreal Engine 5 to rebuild Tamriel, overcoming the limitations of the original game. This dedication has been met with widespread acclaim from the gaming community. At Game8, we awarded Oblivion Remastered a score of 90 out of 100, celebrating its meticulous recreation of Cyrodiil with modern technology. Dive deeper into our review to explore more about this remarkable remaster.