By Azura, by Azura, by Azura! The long-rumoured Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake appears to be a step closer to fruition, as fresh details of the unannounced project have surfaced in a new leak, alongside word of a potential June 2025 release.

According to Mp1st, the claims came from an accidental slip by a former employee at video game support studio Virtuos. This is the latest update in a chain of developments that can be traced back to July 2023, when the first hints of speculation made their rounds, with references to the game in an internal Microsoft document from 2020 — leaked during the company’s court battle with the FTC — lending some credence to the earlier allegation.
Following a brief window of silence, a Virtuos technical art director updated their LinkedIn profile earlier this month, adding a mysterious “unannounced Unreal Engine 5 remake” to his page. Another former employee has since shared, seemingly unintentionally, more specifics of the project on their own website, described as a “fully remade” version of Bethesda’s beloved open-world adventure.
Reportedly, the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake will feature six revamped gameplay systems for stamina, sneaking, blocking, archery, hit reaction, and the heads-up display (HUD). As the original mechanic was too “boring” and “frustrating,” blocking is now more aligned with the play style of the action and Souls-like genres, while the updated sneaking boasts highlighted icons and reworked damage calculation.
Archery has also been updated with both first and third-person perspectives, and the knockdown that occurs with stamina depletion is less frequent. Players can expect hit reactions to improve the response to damage inflicted on the players and NPCs, as well as a redesigned HUD intended to be “easier to understand and more aesthetically appealing to young players.”

As with all rumours, it’s best to take these new details with a grain of salt. Previously, reliable leaker NateTheHate claimed that the remake is set to release this June, but there’s no way to know until Bethesda makes an official announcement. Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox Developer Direct, scheduled for 23 January at 10am PT, may present the next best chance to do so, although it’s unclear whether the description of a “brand new” game would apply to a remake.
After all, a revamped version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion isn’t the only name on Microsoft’s 2020 document, joining Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in the 2022 slate. The full list is as follows (before delays or cancellation):
- Financial year (FY) 2023:
- Doom Year Zero and DLC
- Project Kestrel
- Project Platinum
- FY 2024:
- The Elder Scrolls 6
- Project Kestrel: Expansion
- Licensed IP
- Fallout 3 Remaster
- Ghostwire: Tokyo sequel
- Dishonored 3
- Doom Year Zero DLC