If Oblivion Is the Latest of Many Remasters, Bethesda and Virtuos Have a Layup to Consider

As far as remasters go, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has certainly set a standard, to the point that it has been labeled a remake by some crowds, despite technically being a remaster. Somehow, it managed to make a game that is nearly two decades old feel brand-new again, with an extensive modern overhaul that still retains the magic of the original. Now, with the successful launch of Oblivion Remastered behind its developers, Virtuos and Bethesda, all eyes are on their next big remaster move, speculating on what they could accomplish next.

While no further remasters have been confirmed, should Virtuos and Bethesda be setting their sights on another Elder Scrolls title, they have a crucial choice to make and one of the most significant forks in the road they’ve likely ever encountered. On the one hand, they could take the safer route and remaster Skyrim with the help of Unreal Engine 5. On the flip side, there is an even older entry to consider for a remaster — one that the series’ oldest fans have longed to see remade for over 20 years. However, going that route would not only be riskier, it would also require more work from the developers than even Oblivion Remastered called for.

Bethesda and Virtuos’ Remaster Strategy Faces a Crucial Choice

Skyrim’s Familiar Temptation

Remastering Skyrim almost feels like the easiest way forward for Virtuos and Bethesda, assuming they have plans to give more Elder Scrolls titles the Oblivion Remastered treatment. After all, Skyrim is not only what many consider to be the best Elder Scrolls game, but it is also one of the best role-playing games ever made. In fact, it could easily be classified as one of the greatest video games ever made. As such, remastering it would be a safe bet for the developers, as a modernized Skyrim in Unreal Engine 5 would undoubtedly sell, and nobody would complain about a remaster that streamlines performance, graphics, and UI while retaining its reputation as a modding powerhouse.

However, there would be an undeniable downside to this. Skyrim has already been re-released multiple times, for one thing, so it might be the last thing on players’ minds to play through the game yet another time, even if it does have stellar visuals and performance. Furthermore, Skyrim still looks and plays great even without a remaster, and that is especially true of the Special Edition. So, remastering it rather than another Elder Scrolls title might feel like a waste of time that could have been devoted to an entry arguably more worthy of a remaster: Morrowind.

Morrowind’s Untapped Opportunity

At this point, there is little reason why Virtuos and Bethesda shouldn’t position Morrowind for a remaster, especially considering it is now over 20 years old and still has a cult following of fans who would love to play a modernized version of it. The only thing is that remastering Morrowind is a much riskier move than Skyrim, largely on account of its age. In truth, Virtuos and Bethesda would likely need to completely remake Morrowind rather than simply remaster it, as it would undoubtedly feel too antiquated for most modern gamers.

At the same time, one of the reasons Oblivion Remastered often feels like more of a remake than a remaster is because of how much the team actually did to make it feel like a modern game that only had one of its feet in the past. Streamlined mechanics and new voice work are just some of these improvements, and a Morrowind remaster could benefit from both. It would still take far more work than Oblivion did, though, and would probably end up leaning more on the side of remake anyway. In the end, a Skyrim remaster or Morrowind remaster are both doable. The question is now whether Virtuos and Bethesda want to take the safe bet that will most likely pay off or the riskier bet that could.