Summary

  • Oblivion Remastered was well-received, leading to potential remasters of other Elder Scrolls games.
  • Morrowind remains popular but faces barriers due to outdated technology and mechanics.
  • Despite challenges, a Morrowind remaster would likely be embraced by fans, providing accessibility to newer gamers.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered was well-received by many gamers, including those who first played the game when it was released nearly twenty years ago. The older games in The Elder Scrolls series include captivating stories, important lore, and deeper systems than some of The Elder Scrolls games that came after them. One of the most popular of the older games in The Elder Scrolls is The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. Oblivion Remastered may set a trend in remastering or remaking these popular games.

If Bethesda is planning on remaking other games in The Elder Scrolls, then Morrowind is an obvious option. Morrowind didn't age as well as Oblivion on many fronts, but it still has dedicated fans and a solid playerbase. In the weeks following Oblivion Remastered's release, Morrowind's player count saw a spike, showing that there is a group of players who still enjoy it, even in the face of significant technology barriers.

Oblivion Remastered Collage
8 Things Oblivion Remastered Does Better Than Nearly Every Open-World Game

Oblivion: Remastered has brought the limelight back to maybe one of the best open world titles of all time.

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The Pros of a Morrowind Remaster

Morrowind is considered by many to be one of the best open-world RPGs, and ranks highly in The Elder Scrolls games among users. Morrowind's unique setting, lore, progression, and guild mechanics resulted in it being incredibly immersive. Players could track their development in real ways through gameplay, with meaningful improvement as the character progressed and became more powerful.

Morrowind's setting and lore, such as its Houses, the Tribunal and the religion surrounding it, the limited presence of the Empire, and Vvardenfell's unique flora and fauna, make it one of the most unique provinces in Tamriel. Morrowind's quest and world system are often cited as one of the reasons it is so immersive, but following directions without quest markers may be inaccessible for wider modern audiences.

Removing barriers to playing Morrowind, such as its lack of voiced dialogue, its graphics, and its hit-dice combat mechanics in a remake would likely result in a hit game. Because Morrowind uses such an outdated system and engine, it would likely have to be a remake rather than a remaster. This, however, introduces new problems, such as long-time players becoming upset over changes to Morrowind's core design. A remake, even one made by another studio, as is the case with the Oblivion Remaster, would need to balance managing the expectations of established fans with what gamers would expect from a modern game.

Barriers a Morrowind Remaster Would Have to Overcome

Morrowind's biggest limitation is in its technology, and it has limitations that Oblivion didn't have when it was released. One of the biggest barriers to a Morrowind remaster or remake would be that most dialogue in Morrowind is unvoiced. Casting an entire game is a massive endeavor and runs the risk of not being as immersive as the original.

Overhauling Morrowind's Technical Limitations

Another issue is that the game engine is outdated, and has issues with character models that Oblivion didn't have. Morrowind would need to be ported to a new engine while also keeping the core mechanics that make it memorable. While a complete remake, rather than a remaster, would be more realistic, it's unlikely that it'll be created by Bethesda, as the studio has been reported to have shifted all its focus to developing The Elder Scrolls 6.

However, despite these barriers, a remake of Morrowind would likely be well-received by many fans of The Elder Scrolls. Many players find Morrowind inaccessible despite wanting to play it, and a remake would allow them to play it, while longtime fans could return to it. Elder Scrolls Online' s Morrowind Chapter was well-received and is a good indicator of how a Morrowind remake would do, simply based on Morrowind's unique setting.

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
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Action
RPG
Open-World
Adventure
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Systems
Xbox-1 PlayStation-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
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Released
April 22, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Virtuos, Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Engine
Unreal Engine 5