Between Skyblivion and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, there are two different ways to experience Cyrodiil in 2025. Here is everything you need to know about the comparisons between the two, and if Oblivion Remastered is worth it.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was not developed with fan creation in mind. Bethesda has confirmed that mods are not officially supported, meaning that all existing mods for the original game are likely no longer functional.
That wasn’t enough to deter passionate Elder Scrolls fans from creating 100 different mods for Oblivion Remastered. In addition, Bethesda hasn’t gotten in the way of fans from doing so. Skyblivion, for example, is an exciting project that deserves recognition.
Skyblivion explained
As explained on the official website, Syblivion is a fan-made remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, ported to the Skyrim: Special Edition engine, that transfers all quests, locations, and characters.
Development for Skyblivion officially started in 2012. The core group of developers recruited willing volunteers to help bring the vision to life. And after years of dedication, the project is almost at the finish line.
The development team has not confirmed an official release date, but plans to release it in 2025. At launch, Skyblivion includes all weapons, armor, quests, locations, and NPCs found in the original game.
However, Bethesda and Virtuous beat them to the punch and released Oblivion Remastered. Fans suspected that it might put an end to Skyblivion, but that’s not the case.
“Both projects can exist and thrive together, offering unique experiences for players. Skyblivion is a labor of love, built by a dedicated community for the community, offering a distinct way to revisit Oblivion,” The Skyblivion dev team stated. “We see this not as a conflict, but as a fantastic opportunity for Elder Scrolls fans to have even more ways to enjoy the classic world of Cyrodiil.”
The plan is to release Skyblivion later this year, and the dev team confirmed, “To clear up any confusion, Bethesda made it clear that they have no intention of shutting down our project.”
What Are The Differences Between Skyblivion and Oblivion Remastered?
The primary differences between Skyblivion and Oblivion Remastered are that Skyblivion is a free-to-play game, only available on PC, and was developed using the original Skyrim engine. On the other hand, Oblivion Remastered was created from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. The base edition costs $49.99 and is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
For a full breakdown of what’s changed from the original game in Oblivion Remastered, check out our guide.
Is Oblivion Remastered Worth it?
Despite the $49.99 price tag and the fact that Skyblivion is free, Oblivion Remastered is still worth purchasing.
If you are an Elder Scrolls purist, Skyblivion will be closer to what you are looking for. However, just as the Skyblivion devs argued, both projects are worth experiencing, as each one offers a distinct reimagining of Cyrodiil.
Skyblivion will be closer to what fans remember, with similar gameplay and UI. Yet, Oblivion Remastered also deserves credit for overhauling the combat system, streamlining leveling, adding sprinting, and making other much-needed quality-of-life changes.
The Skyblivion devs are fans at heart and poured over 10 years of their lives into creating the project. The wait will be worth it, but there is nothing wrong with playing Oblivion Remastered in the meantime.
For more information on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, check if the game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, if it is PS5 Pro Enhanced, and take a look at the complete trophy list.
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