Look, everybody’s talking aboutStarfield. And even if they’re not, the conversation is never far away from something Bethesda-adjacent. Case in point: there’s been some new footage released ofSkyblivion, the upcoming fan remake ofOblivion.
Uploaded to theHeavy BurnsYouTube channel, we’re treated to 20 minutes of gameplay from the upcoming project, which was showcased at this year’s Creation Mod Con. In the video, we get to see the Hero of Kvatch engaging in one of the game’s many side quests.
More specifically, it’s the Mazoga the Orc mission that begins in Leyawiin Castle. As in the original game, the quest plays out as normal, complete with the OG voice acting. The major difference here, obviously, is that theSkyblivionversion is visually different, thanks to it being done in the Creation Engine.
TheSkyrimDNA is definitely there as well, such as the compass and quest markers. Not to mention the animations and character models, but it still plays out like the classic 2006 game.
So what isSkyblivion?
If you’re not familiar with this project,Skyblivionis essentially a full remake ofThe Elder Scrolls 4, but done inSkyrim‘s engine. The team has been painstakingly (and voluntarily) recreating the entire RPG using somewhat more up-to-date software.
While the Creation Engine is still very much a Bethesda thing (version 2.0 is being used to developStarfield), it’s now considered quite dated when compared to modern standards. Having said that, it’s a step up fromOblivion‘s Gamebryo engine which, according toWikipedia, hasn’t been used to make a game since 2011.
As forSkyblivionitself, it does look better in this engine. It’s still quintessentiallyOblivion, but that extra boost in visuals gives it somewhat of a facelift. The modders themselves have been tirelessly working on it for years, and the end may be in sight.
The video says the game is aiming for a 2025 release. If you want to help out, the team is still taking on additionalvolunteers. you’re able to also check out thewebsitefor more details.
