In September 2023, the gaming community was rocked by a massive leak from the FTC vs. Microsoft court proceedings, spilling a trove of confidential documents onto the internet. Among the revelations were several intriguing projects that Bethesda was secretly developing before being acquired by Microsoft. Notable titles on this list included a Fallout 3 remaster scheduled for 2024, a prequel to Doom named Doom: The Dark Ages set for 2023, and an Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remaster, which was initially planned for 2022. Even though years have passed since these games reportedly began their development, many fans are still clinging to the hope that the Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remaster might still come to fruition. And there’s an added buzz with the anticipation of Doom: The Dark Ages set to finally debut this coming May.
In recent months, speculation has only grown stronger, fueled by whispers from industry insiders insisting that the remaster or remake of Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remains very much alive and in development. While some expected its grand reveal at Xbox’s Developer Direct just last month, there’s still a lingering optimism that Oblivion could surprise fans at Xbox’s summer showcase. However, while the prospect of an Oblivion revamp is undoubtedly exciting, Bethesda might want to dive even deeper into its vault.
### Remakes of The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Daggerfall Could Create the Largest Sandbox in Series History
Back when The Elder Scrolls: Arena and The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall were released in 1994 and 1996, they pushed the boundaries of gaming with sheer scale. Arena offered fans a chance to wander across the vast continent of Tamriel, and although Daggerfall focused on just two regions—High Rock and Hammerfell—it boasted a staggering 15,000 cities, towns, and dungeons. Achieving this kind of grandeur was no small feat back in the ’90s, as Bethesda relied heavily on groundbreaking procedural generation technology to flesh out quests and dungeons. It would be truly incredible to witness these enormous Elder Scrolls worlds revamped with today’s advanced procedural tech, especially if it could resolve the classic titles’ penchant for glitches involving unfinished quests and confusing dungeon designs.
### A Morrowind Remake Would Be Impeccably Timed
Over the past decade, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind has steadily garnered a reputation as a fan favorite, thanks largely to its immersive, simulation-like gameplay. Unlike its successors, Morrowind doesn’t hand-hold players with quest markers. Instead, it requires players to engage with NPCs, heed their advice, and tackle objectives in creative ways. This depth of immersion and player autonomy is exactly what many fans hope to see return in future Elder Scrolls titles, and a modern remake of Morrowind could deliver precisely that experience.
Timing could not be better for a Morrowind revamp either. With Indiana Jones and the Great Circle recently introducing the immersive sim genre to a new audience, more players might be open to embracing the more challenging elements of Morrowind. While the modding community has already made commendable strides in modernizing Morrowind, a comprehensive, high-budget remake by Bethesda could be worth pursuing—so long as it retains the original’s deeply immersive spirit and gameplay that fans cherish.
