The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is real and you can play it yesterday

I might finally jump into the Xbox-saving RPG

As was rumored, leaked and then announced, Microsoft -> Xbox -> Bethesda have officially announced The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and did a surprise drop immediately.

That means that, yes, you can play it right now (or yesterday, if you logged on to read the news anywhere).

For those who may not know the full details, this game was originally released wayyyyy back in 2006 for the Xbox 360 at a time when fans were eagerly awaiting the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii (then known as the Revolution prior to release). The Xbox was holding steady but fans had been hesitant to adopt a console that didn’t have any huge RPGs at the time. When the game released to success it influenced Western RPG development for generations, bolstering a genre and revitalizing the Xbox for a PC audience.

It’s not arguable to say that without Oblivion we wouldn’t have Mass Effect or Dragon Age or the Fallout TV series — or maybe even Xbox at all any more.

Anyhoo, the remastered edition brings with it a huge visual overhaul, audio soundtrack improvements, modern quality of life controls and adjustments, and the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions. Purchase of a special “Deluxe Edition” nets a bunch of extras like a digital artbook, soundtrack app, special quests, and HORSE ARMOR.

Let’s freaking gooooooo.