In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glory of their latest hit, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the fanbase engaged and returning to the enchanting world of Cyrodiil, they began rolling out small paid DLC packages. Little did they know, the first DLC pack released in April—horse armor—would stir up a storm of controversy. Though downloadable content (DLC) was not a new concept, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the 360 Marketplace (around $2.50 at the time), sparked widespread debate due to its perceived lack of utility.
Fast forward to 2025, and the gaming landscape has shifted dramatically. Cosmetic upgrades like horse armor have become the norm, allowing Bethesda to cheekily reintroduce this infamous item with the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside today's announcement and shadow-drop of the remaster, Bethesda revealed that the game will be available in both a base and deluxe edition. The deluxe edition, priced at an additional $10 over the base game, offers new quests for unique armors, additional weapon choices, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, the return of horse armor—now in two stylish sets.Surprisingly, fans have largely embraced this move with good humor. We're nearly two decades removed from a time when cosmetic DLC was a novel and contentious concept. Today's gamers are accustomed to spending on cosmetic enhancements, as evidenced by the $10.4 billion spent on PC and console video game digital add-ons in the U.S. in 2024, according to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella. As Piscatella noted on BlueSky, "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run."
Many find Bethesda's nod to their past controversy amusing and a sign of the company's confidence in their audience's sense of humor.
PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0
— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025
Honestly I have to respect it. New players won't know this, but releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a subtle reference to when they singlehandedly ruined the industry by selling it the first time around. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX
— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025
£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr
— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025
Oblivion Remastered isn't just about nostalgia; it's already seeing a surge in community mods. Just hours after the game's launch, several mods appeared on popular site Nexus Mods, offering minor customization options. As the modding community continues to expand its offerings, you can delve into why some players believe today's release is more of a remake than a remaster and Bethesda's rationale for labeling it as "Remastered."
For a deeper dive into the world of Oblivion Remastered, our comprehensive guide covers everything from an expansive Interactive Map to complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, and essential Things to Do First, among other resources.
AnswerSee Results
