Skyblivion fan project moving forward despite remaster rumors: ‘Players will be the true winners,’ devs say

The folks behind Skyblivion, a fan project focused on porting The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion to the Skyrim engine, will continue development in the face of continued rumors about an Oblivion remaster supervised by Bethesda itself.

“We are on track for our planned release later this year,” the Skyblivion team said on Bluesky. “The prospect of an official remaster is exciting. Players will be the true winners, having the opportunity to experience both a community-driven reimagining and a professional version of Oblivion.”

Whispers of an Oblivion remaster have existed since 2023, when leaked documents from the Federal Trade Commission’s legal battle with Microsoft over the tech corporation’s acquisition of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media revealed internal plans for the project. Reports of the remaster’s imminent release heated up earlier this year, culminating in the discovery of actual screenshots in the backend of supposed remaster studio Virtuos’ website in April.

We’ve reproduced the entirety of the Skyblivion team’s very classy statement below:

We’ve been following the buzz surrounding an official remaster of Oblivion. As dedicated Elder Scrolls fans, we are incredibly excited by this prospect and sincerely hope the information proves accurate. The glimpses we’ve seen look fantastic, and we eagerly anticipate the possibility of experiencing a modern, professionally developed return to Cyrodiil. Bethesda has always been supportive of community projects like ours, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon. As a PC mod, a console release is impossible for us, so the remaster presents a wonderful opportunity for console players to re-experience Oblivion, something our project could never directly provide.

We want to emphasize that there is no need for comparisons or a sense of competition between Skyblivion and a potential official remaster. 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 within the familiar framework of the Creation Engine. Similarly, an official remaster would undoubtedly bring its own set of advancements with the full funding of a development studio. We see this not as a conflict, but as a fantastic opportunity for Elder Scrolls fans to have even more way to enjoy the classic world of Cyrodiil.

We extend our gratitude to our incredible community for their unwavering support, enthusiasm, and patience throughout our development journey. Your passion fuels our dedication. We also want to cheer on the talented game developers at Virtuos and any other teams potentially involved in bringing an official Oblivion remaster to life. We recognize the immense effort and artistry that goes into such a significant undertaking.

Ultimately, 2025 promises to be a remarkable year for fans of Oblivion. We are confident that players will be the true winners, having the opportunity to experience both a community-driven reimagining and a professional, modern version of this beloved game.

We look forward to sharing more about Skyblivion’s progress soon as we approach its release later this year.

Skyblivion began development in 2012 and is scheduled to launch sometime in 2025.