Oblivion Remastered surpasses 9 million players in just three months

Three months after its release, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered reached an impressive milestone: it surpassed 9 million players and established itself as the second best-selling video game of 2025. The remaster of Bethesda's classic RPG was launched without prior notice on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5, with immediate availability on Game Pass, which drove its rapid adoption by the public.

This commercial success was not without controversy: Virtuos, the studio responsible for the game's technical development, suffered massive layoffs weeks after the release, especially at its Paris headquarters, which was key to the project.

A strategic launch and an active community

The decision to launch Oblivion Remastered directly on Game Pass was key to removing entry barriers and expanding its player base. The strategy allowed both veteran fans and new users to immerse themselves in the renewed Tamriel experience from day one.

The community's response was immediate. Shortly after its release, more than 100 user-developed mods were already circulating, reflecting the enthusiasm for customizing the game. Bethesda, however, confirmed that there would be no official support for mods, which caused criticism but did not stop players' creativity.

Virtuos: behind the success, a labor crisis

Despite the global recognition the title received, Virtuos went through an internal crisis. In July, the company implemented massive layoffs, particularly affecting its Paris headquarters, which was directly involved in the remaster.

This episode reignited the debate about job instability in the video game industry, even in contexts of commercial success. So far, neither Bethesda nor Virtuos has offered detailed public explanations about the staff cuts, which fuels criticism about the distribution of profits and recognition of the creative teams' work.

Technical improvements and critical reception

Beyond the visual update, Oblivion Remastered introduced gameplay improvements and technical fixes. Patch 1.2 added the new "Journeyman" difficulty level and fixed bugs, such as one present in the Dark Brotherhood quest.

Performance optimization has been well received by critics and users, who highlighted the frequency of updates as one of the strengths of this remaster. Nevertheless, the lack of official support for mods remains a common complaint among players, who see customization as an essential aspect of the experience in The Elder Scrolls.

Despite this, the community has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, quickly offering additional content that keeps exploration of Tamriel's vast world alive.