With remarkable Steam concurrent player counts and Bethesda’s confirmation of 4 million players, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has solidified its success by ranking as the third best-selling game in the U.S. for 2025, just one week after its release.
Oblivion Remastered, launched unexpectedly on April 22, achieved a peak of 216,784 concurrent players on Steam. This figure, while notable, only partially reflects its reach, as the game also debuted on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and was included in Game Pass from day one.
A new milestone has emerged: within its first week, Oblivion Remastered claimed the third spot in U.S. game sales for 2025, based on dollar revenue, according to Circana’s Mat Piscatella. He noted on social media that only Monster Hunter: Wilds and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows outperform it on the 2025 sales chart.
It’s worth noting that Circana’s sales data excludes players accessing the game through subscription services like Microsoft’s Game Pass, underscoring Oblivion Remastered’s strong sales performance despite its availability on such platforms.
This success suggests more Bethesda remasters are likely on the horizon, with speculation pointing to Fallout 3—previously leaked in 2023—or Fallout: New Vegas as potential candidates.
What might players anticipate from such remasters? Bruce Nesmith, a designer on Fallout 3, highlighted its outdated gun combat, suggesting Bethesda would likely enhance this aspect significantly in a remaster.
In a conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith explained that a Fallout 3 Remastered would likely feature shooting mechanics akin to those in Fallout 4. “The improvements in Fallout 4 show what Bethesda deemed necessary to refine from Fallout 3,” he said.
“Fallout 4 saw significant effort on gun combat, as Fallout 3 was Bethesda’s first attempt at a shooter-style game. The results were impressive,” Nesmith added.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots
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Developed by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, Oblivion Remastered boasts numerous visual and gameplay enhancements. It delivers 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, alongside deeper improvements to leveling systems, character creation, combat animations, and in-game menus. New dialogue, an improved third-person perspective, and advanced lip sync technology further elevate the experience. Fans have embraced these changes, with some arguing it feels more like a remake. Bethesda, however, has clarified its choice to label it a remaster.
Nesmith suggested a Fallout 3 Remastered would likely follow a similar approach, incorporating comparable upgrades to Oblivion Remastered.
“Fallout 3’s combat didn’t match the standards of contemporary shooters,” he noted. “It’s an RPG shooter, not a fast-paced one. Fallout 4’s combat improvements would likely inform any updates, assuming Bethesda follows the same path.”
“Oblivion Remastered goes beyond merely updating to Skyrim’s 2011 standards,” Nesmith added. “Its visuals rival or surpass Skyrim’s latest graphical updates, making it feel like ‘Oblivion 2.0.’”
Bethesda is juggling multiple projects, including The Elder Scrolls VI and potential expansions for Starfield. With ongoing work on Fallout 76 and the Fallout TV show’s second season set in New Vegas, the studio is poised to keep fans engaged for years to come.
Explore our detailed guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an interactive map, complete walkthroughs for the main quest and guild missions, character-building tips, early-game priorities, PC cheat codes, and much more.
