Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster Appears Confirmed Following New Screenshot Leak

A Long-Awaited Return to Cyrodiil If you’ve explored everything in Skyrim, finished Starfield, and are tired of waiting for The Elder Scrolls 6, there’s exciting news: it looks like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is finally coming back — remastered and better than ever. After years of speculation, recent leaks seem to confirm what fans have long hoped for. Dozens of newly surfaced screenshots show an updated version of Oblivion, comparing key locations from the 2006 original to their modern versions. The remaster has not been officially announced yet, but all signs point to a reveal — and potentially even a release — very soon. ________________________________________ The Origins of the Leak The first major leak happened back in 2023, when Microsoft documents were released during its court case related to the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Those documents listed Oblivion Remaster as a planned title for FY2022. However, the game never launched and remained unconfirmed — until now. Earlier this week, eagle-eyed users on ResetEra and other forums discovered files uploaded to Virtuos' official website. Virtuos, a developer known for working on Sea of Thieves, Stellar Blade, Age of Mythology, and more, accidentally exposed screenshots and artwork for what appears to be “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.” ________________________________________ What the Leaked Screenshots Show The screenshots revealed several iconic places from Cyrodiil, Oblivion's setting — including the game’s opening area, towers, towns, and other recognizable structures. These visuals have been entirely reworked in Unreal Engine 5, showcasing upgraded lighting, textures, and models that bring the world closer in style to Skyrim. The images also showed what appears to be a deluxe edition of the remaster, which might include cosmetic DLC. The level of detail and quality seen in the leaks suggest that this isn’t just a minor update — it’s a full remake, not just a standard remaster. ________________________________________ Insider Confirmation and Release Window The buzz around the remake has been growing rapidly. While there were false starts (like the rumored April 3 release, which didn’t happen), reliable insiders are now in agreement. • Detective Seeds, who originally claimed the game would release April 3, has now revised their statement to say it will arrive the week of April 21, possibly after The Elder Scrolls Online's anniversary event ends on April 22. • Trusted industry figure Jeff Grubb from Giant Bomb has backed up this claim, saying, “Others have said it, but I’ve got separate confirmation — it’s happening.” • Other well-known insiders like NatetheHate and VGC have also pointed to the same timeline. With multiple credible sources now aligned, it seems very likely that the game will be shadowdropped — released suddenly, with little warning — as early as next week. ________________________________________ Why a Remake Makes Sense Now It’s been more than 13 years since Skyrim was released. While The Elder Scrolls 6 is still a long way off, fans are eager for something fresh. Bethesda seems to be filling that gap with Oblivion Remastered — a logical and much-requested move. Remakes have become increasingly popular in the gaming industry, with even relatively recent titles getting overhauls. So the idea of remaking Skyrim down the line doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore. Bethesda needs something to keep players engaged, and returning to one of its most beloved titles is a smart way to do it. ________________________________________ Not the Only Project in the Works While the official remake is gaining all the spotlight, fans haven’t forgotten about Skyblivion, the ambitious fan-made project that recreates Oblivion in Skyrim’s engine. It’s been in development for years and is currently targeting a 2025 release. Between the official remake and the fan project, Oblivion is clearly having a major moment. ________________________________________ In Summary: What We Know So Far • Rumors of the Oblivion remaster began in 2020, gaining traction over time. • The game was first spotted in leaked Microsoft documents during the Activision Blizzard case. • This week, files and screenshots were leaked from developer Virtuos' own website. • The game is confirmed to be a full remake in Unreal Engine 5, not just a graphical polish. • Visuals show key Cyrodiil locations completely reimagined. • A deluxe edition with cosmetic DLC has been spotted. • Multiple insiders — including Jeff Grubb, VGC, and Detective Seeds — say the game will shadowdrop the week of April 21. • Bethesda has not yet made an official announcement, but one is expected any day. • The remake will help bridge the long wait until The Elder Scrolls 6. • Fan-made remake Skyblivion is also in progress, scheduled for 2025. ________________________________________ Final Thoughts Whether you’re a longtime fan of The Elder Scrolls series or new to the world of Tamriel, Oblivion Remastered looks like it could be one of the biggest surprise launches of the year. It’s shaping up to be more than just nostalgia — it’s a modern revival of a classic RPG that helped define a generation. Now we wait for the official word. But let’s be honest — the secret’s already out.