Mod Support for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered: What You Need to Know

Bethesda is renowned for its role-playing games (RPGs) featuring robust modding capabilities. However, the upcoming The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered signals a departure from what players have come to expect. Traditionally, titles in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises have utilized the Gamebryo engine or its successor, the Creation Engine. This consistency allowed for a seamless modding experience over the years. With Oblivion Remastered opting for Unreal Engine 5, Bethesda is moving away from some of the limitations associated with the Creation Engine, yet this shift presents new challenges for the modding community.

This isn’t the first time Bethesda has disrupted the modding landscape through a remaster. For instance, when Skyrim—Special Edition was released, it inadvertently rendered many classic mods incompatible. However, since it utilized the same engine, transitioning existing projects to work with the Special Edition was often feasible. In contrast, it appears that the modding community may encounter a more complicated road ahead with Oblivion Remastered.

Mod Support for Oblivion Remastered: What You Need to Know

Is Bethesda Breaking With Tradition?

Oblivion Remastered
Emperor Uriel Septim VII
Oblivion Remastered Screenshot

According to Bethesda’s official support page, it’s confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered does not currently support mods. This limitation does not rule out the possibility of mods being created for the PC version, but it does suggest that the level of support for modding will not be on par with other Bethesda titles. Consequently, the potential for groundbreaking total conversion projects, which often define the modding experience, is significantly diminished. Historically, Bethesda also enabled modding on consoles, but without explicit support, such opportunities will not be available for Oblivion Remastered.

Is Future Mod Support a Possibility?

Could Mod Support Be Added Later?

Starfield DLC tower

Though Bethesda’s current statement does not indicate any forthcoming mod support, the situation could evolve. In some cases, mod support has been integrated after the initial launch, as was the case with Starfield, which took several months to develop its modding capabilities. Oblivion Remastered has enjoyed a robust reception, with concurrent player numbers exceeding 150,000 on Steam shortly after its launch, as recorded by SteamDB. This success might provide a push for Bethesda to prioritize mod support in future updates.

Nevertheless, the switch to Unreal Engine 5 poses a significant challenge, as the Creation Kit, which has facilitated modding for Bethesda’s previous titles, may not be easily transferable to this new engine architecture.

For gamers eager for a more transformative experience within the world of Oblivion, it may be wiser to explore overhaul mods for the original titles instead. While The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered will deliver enhanced visuals, mechanics, and quality-of-life improvements, it is unlikely to offer the vast modding freedom that has characterized past games in the series anytime soon.

Sources: Bethesda, SteamDB

Source&Images

© 2021 The Filibuster Blog