Latest news with #ElderScrolls
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Seagate's 8TB Game Drive for Xbox Just Got Cheaper for a Limited Time, 16x Storage and One Solid Deal
For friends, family, and loved ones who play video games on the reg, some new gaming accessories make for wonderful gifts. with Memorial Day deals still abound, you can find some big opportunities to save on peripherals and components such as controllers, headsets, hard drives, you name it. If you yourself are an Xbox Series X or Series S player or love someone who is, treat yourself or them to this Seagate Game Drive for Xbox. You can expand the onboard storage to download and play more games for just $190. Normally this external hard drive goes for $220, but right now it's $30 off over at Best Buy. See at Best Buy The Xbox Series X and Series S are the current generation of Microsoft gaming consoles. The more robust Series X features an internal SSD with a total storage of 1TB while the Series S supports a storage of just 512GB out of the box. After considering the system software loaded on them that gets consoles to run in the first place, the actually-usable storage is considerably less than that. Plus, games these days are ballooning in file size. Most recently, the The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster released last month and that game alone has a download size of over a hundred gigabytes. If you want to make the best of your Xbox console, you're going to want some form of additional storage. 8TB of Xbox Storage The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox will add a whopping 8TB to your console. That's almost 16 times the storage capacity as the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S off the shelf. Adding an external hard drive to your Xbox could not be easier. The Seagate expansion hard drive simply plugs into your console over USB. The Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X will recognize it to be a hard drive and will allow you to choose to download games directly to it instead of the console's internal drive. The external hard drives only takes about two minutes to set up. Some past generation titles or smaller indie games can be played directly off the external hard drive. However, newer, more expansive titles will require you to move them from the hard drive to the Xbox's internal drive as they require the fast load times the onboard storage offers. It's not the perfect solution, but it is still much faster than redownloading games after deleting to make space.
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Oblivion Remastered reminds me of when Bethesda were the true RPG masters
If Bethesda wants to be back on top by the time next Elder Scrolls game rolls around, it should take more lessons from Oblivion Remastered than Starfield. Oblivion Remastered demonstrates the kind of inspiring world and storytelling experience any studio worth its RPG weight should be aiming to recapture. For the longest time, the RPG video game arms race was dominated by the two Bs: BioWare and Bethesda. Specialising in creating titles with memorable characters set in incredibly detailed worlds – the kind where you, the player, can make an impact through your own gameplay decisions – it's clear that this style of game, in 2025, has only become harder to make for both studios. As a result, there's a lot less of these 'all-encompassing' style RPG experiences to be found in general, which means when a disappointment of, say, Starfield 's calibre arrives, it's no fun for anyone. Particularly the players and developers who adored the genre-defining experiences of BioWare and Bethesda's heyday. While not a bad game per se, Dragon Age: The Veilguard 's more action-oriented approach caused long-time series fans to wonder why it was even called Dragon Age at all. As for Mass Effect? Time will tell whether BioWare can put lightning back in that bottle. Meanwhile, as for the other big B, I've been dipping in and out of Oblivion Remastered since its release this month. It's showing age in places, true, yet still reminds me of when a Bethesda RPG was something to be savoured. Is it full of jank and barmy voice acting? Yes, but it also nails (as Skyrim also did) the feeling of being transported to another place, a feeling that's further cemented once you gain influence over it through your decisions. Starfield lacked a lot of this texture, by comparison. The difference with Oblivion is that it cuts the clutter. Now, what do I mean by 'clutter'? Part of this is the size of the world, of course. Whereas Starfield was largely sold on the premise of being limitless, what with procedurally generated planets making up a vast solar system that seemed ripe for exploration alongside a few central hubs, Oblivion's Cyrodiil is almost the exact opposite. In a little under 10 minutes, I can run from its capital all the way to the county of Kvatch, where I'm immediately besieged by countless narrative threads to pull on – almost all of them interesting. By nature of being substantially smaller, not only is Oblivion Remastered more manageable, but less intimidating when wanting to become invested in the several stories it presents. Starfield's more procedural approach feels more like a chore. There's an interesting concept at its centre, one involving some sort of ancient prophecy that quickly sees your main mission to hunt down a series of Artefacts as part of Constellation's effort. This narrative throughline quickly gets muddled soon after you've first launched off the starting planet, however, and it isn't helped by the avalanche of continuous load screens as you board, fly, and then exit your shuttle. Oblivion Remastered has absolutely none of these extra trimmings, and therefore very little bloat. You're quickly out there, exploring Cyrodiil at your own pace, meeting all kinds of quirky races and characters. A dying age Funnily enough, where Oblivion Remastered is most like Starfield is in the raft of dungeons I'm encouraged to plunder. Absolutely all of them I've explored so far feel like the same copy-and-paste underground design, only with a slightly different layout and objective. This isn't an issue exclusive to Oblivion, mind you, Skyrim still has a similar sense of repetition. However, it never bothers me too much since you're never forced to spend exorbitant amounts of time in them, meaning it's never too long before you're back out into Cyrodiil's beautiful open scenery – which obviously looks better than ever due to being rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. These are just a few superficial examples, but as someone who is currently playing Oblivion for the first time via this remaster, the benefits are clear: Bethesda RPGs are best when they cut out any noise and make you the centre of this story cleanly and promptly. It's not perfect, and by nature of being essentially a facelift of a 2006 Xbox 360 title, there's a few niggles I have with combat, pacing, and the minigames. Dear lord, the minigames… That said, I hope Bethesda learns what it did great during this era of RPG development so it can use these lessons to inform the next generation of The Elder Scrolls rather than the less nuanced approach of Starfield. In the end, there's a direct line that can be drawn from Oblivion all the way to Starfield. You see it in its insistence on wanting to make the player feel special, combined with plenty of reasons to poke away at the farthest reaches of the map and, most of all, tell a story in a world that reflects the effects of your specific decision-making right back at you. These kinds of wide-scale RPGs are no longer a walk in the park to make, and so it's not too surprising to see both BioWare and Bethesda stumble a fair bit when wanting to still get it right while making the most of what new advancements in technology offer. Oblivion Remastered, warts and all, has far more texture and allure than most other recent video game worlds. As such, I don't think it's wrong to expect a once great RPG studio like Bethesda to try and get back to that.
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
All Elder Scrolls games in order, by release date and chronologically
There are few fantasy worlds as fleshed out and deep as the Elder Scrolls' Tamriel. We were first introduced to the series in the early '90s, and now eagerly await Elder Scrolls 6 to show us a new chapter of this tale. Until that upcoming video game makes its way to our PCs and consoles, we love to revisit these games to see how they have evolved and reimmerse ourselves in the lore. Similar to the GTA games, you'd be missing out on over half the games if you think there are only 5 Elder Scrolls games out right now. Surprisingly enough, every single game is considered canon and contributes to the ongoing story of the world. While you could always jump into whatever game looks most interesting, we think playing either in release order or chronologically is a better approach. This is the official order for the entire Elder Scrolls series in release and chronological order. All Elder Scrolls games in release order The Elder Scrolls is an old franchise that has undergone tons of evolutions over the decades. What hasn't changed is how ambitious these RPGs are. Each one has pushed the limits of open world games, RPGs, and simulations, though not without their bugs and glitches. Most mainline entries are set in one specific region or province of Tamriel, though some cover more ground or have expansions that let the player visit new areas. Recommended Videos While the oldest games in this list can be rough on the eyes, playing in release order really shows how impressive the growth of this series is from game to game. If you want to take on playing the Elder Scrolls games in release order, here's how to do it: Note: We will only list the original release for games that have multiple versions. Otherwise, half this list would be Skyrim. The Elder Scrolls Arena (1994) (1994) The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (1996) (1996) The Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire (1997) (1997) The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (1998) (1998) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002) (2002) The Elder Scrolls Travels: Stormhold (2003) (2003) The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar (2004) (2004) The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey (2004) (2004) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) (2006) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) (2011) The Elder Scrolls Online (2014) (2014) The Elder Scrolls: Legends (2016) (2016) The Elder Scrolls: Blades (2020) (2020) The Elder Scrolls VI (TBA) All Elder Scrolls games in chronological order One of the great things about epic fantasy series is that they tend to have their own calendars. That isn't true for the Zelda games, but thankfully is for The Elder Scrolls, so we can easily track what games take place when. As cool as it sounds to play the series in the correct order of events historically, in practice, it is going to be a bit of a nightmare. Since every single game is considered canon, you are going to have to track down some very old PC and mobile games. Aside from major events, you aren't required to know the whole timeline or history of the series before playing the latest entry if you wish. Of course, those who do spend the time engrossing themselves will be rewarded. If you're up to the task, this is the official The Elder Scrolls timeline. The Elder Scrolls counts major time periods in Eras (E) followed by years. The Elder Scrolls Online (2E 582) (2E 582) The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (2E 864) (2E 864) The Elder Scrolls Arena (3E 389 – 3E 399) (3E 389 – 3E 399) The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey (3E 397) (3E 397) The Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire (3E 398 – 405) (3E 398 – 405) The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (3E 405 – 3E 417) (3E 405 – 3E 417) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (3E 427) (3E 427) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (3E 433) (3E 433) The Elder Scrolls: Legends (4E 175 – 201) (4E 175 – 201) The Elder Scrolls: Blades (4E 180) (4E 180) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (4E 201) (4E 201) The Elder Scrolls Travels: Stormhold and The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar (Unknown) and (Unknown) The Elder Scrolls VI (TBD)
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and the latest games reviewed
I say this every month, but the video games of 2025 just keep getting better and better -and we're not even halfway through the year yet. From a masterpiece remaster to a spotlight on new mythology, to classic platformers and everything in between, recent releases continue to prove gaming is the most imaginative and interactive entertainment medium going. Whether you've got 1 hour to spare or 100, the following recent releases are up to the challenge of keeping you entertained for the weeks and months ahead. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Surprises in the gaming industry can be few and far between. And while a remaster has long been anticipated, I don't think anyone expected the shock release of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered last week. No major announcement and no big countdown. It just appeared on storefronts, and that was it. But with a reported 4 million players already venturing into Cyrodiil in just one week, it seems that when you remake a masterpiece, you don't need much advertising. Die-hard fans who remember the 2006 original will flock in their droves to re-experience one of gaming's most magical RPG experiences. So, just how does this revamped version of Oblivion stack up? A major facelift breathes new life into a familiar world The first and most pressing difference to this new entrant into the pantheon of Elder Scrolls is the graphical overhaul. Cyrodiil and its inhabitants have received a much-deserved modern facelift, which utterly transforms your experiences. Granted, these are the same goofy-like NPCs you'll fondly remember, but with newfound details, nuances, and, let's be honest, distinguishable faces now. The contrast between new and old characters couldn't be clearer, and each one will involve equal parts of curiosity and nostalgia. I feel like they've overcorrected on the art style here #OblivionRemastered — Milkshake 🍨 (@MilkshakeXS) April 22, 2025 Environments also have a new lick of paint, with textures and lighting that will make your familiar playthrough feel like a new odyssey. New features like sprinting are a godsend and will help you shave a few hours off your travels. The UI has always been cleaned up substantially, with insightful menus that give you all the information you need, as well as a refined map that makes playing more fun and organised. And yet, the essence of the original survives intact. You have that quintessential 2006 experience, but with a sprinkling of modern mechanics. It really is sublime. For newcomers and seasoned players alike, the story of Oblivion remains untouched. You begin your journey as a prisoner who quickly gets caught up in the political drama of bigwig elites. Entrusted with the prized Amulet of Kings, your journey feeds into a much larger prophecy, where you must stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the lands before it is too late. No pressure! But aside from saving the world, this story is one of your own making. In true open-world fashion, there is so much to do in the game that you can get to the pressing matters at your own pace. Oblivion allows you to craft your own epic adventure on your terms, with a seemingly unlimited supply of meaningful content to fight through. All the while, you're in control of your own hero and their destiny. Be as beautiful and regal as you want, or an absolute menace to the people around you. Whether you want to wield a sword, specialise in powerful magic, pilfer items or mix in a little bit of everything, the choice is yours. This creative freedom is what made the original Oblivion such a triumph. And it's great to see the essence of that magic survives the remastering process. With heightened graphics, together with quality of life improvements, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered manages to strike the perfect balance between nostalgia and modernity. Best of all, both Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles DLCs are included, giving you the complete experience to the fullest. Here's hoping you still have some annual leave to spare so you can give this surprise delight the time and commitment it truly deserves! The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Game Pass, and PC. South of Midnight Mythology is no stranger to video games. Some of the biggest hits in the last few years have told (and retold) stories we all know from our favourite pantheons across the world. But there have been some notable omissions to the kind of locations we get to learn about. South of Midnight is an action-adventure myth-inspired game that addresses this in a big way. It's a unique, supernatural experience stemming from the Deep South, covering folklore often overlooked by mainstream video games. Fashioned as a sort of Tim Burton-esque stop-motion game, it feels and behaves like a living gothic storybook. You play as Hazel, an athletic young girl who discovers that she is a Weaver, someone who can mend spirits and allow them to move on. This power becomes invaluable as she travels the lands, restoring spirits and removing their trauma, all the while searching for her missing mother and uncovering her family's mysterious past. It's hard to put into words how beautiful this game looks when you're exploring. Animals frolic from every corner. Thorny brambles begin to take over and add hostility to every corner. Levels are intricate, with endless tree trunks twisting throughout swamps. The shacks that you parkour over are dilapidated and impoverished, and from the outset, the environment seems to be telling its own underlying narrative. To transform the mythical world back to vibrancy, Hazel must 'unravel' corruptions. She does this by defeating a variety of enemies around key points of the level and by also relieving folklore characters of their emotional pain and turmoil. As a Weaver, Hazel can dash, dive, glide, and unlock new powers as she progresses. Combat largely centres on button-bashing, where Hazel will hack and slash at enemies with her mystic hooks, slipping powerful Weaver abilities as and when they're off cooldown. Granted, combat can often be a tad repetitive, and I can't help but think the game could have pushed the mechanics into more interesting territory – or even forgo it altogether and focus more on a puzzle aspect. The setting is so interesting that it could pique your curiosity on its own. That said, the abundance of storyline and cut scenes strewn between each fight can help break up the repetition and carry you through it all. Some of these stories are pretty dark and sorrowful, never holding back their emotional punch. They'll leave a lasting impression on you and then some, and hopefully instil an appreciation for the culture you're entrenched in. With unique graphics, a beautiful soundtrack, and dark stories aplenty, South of Midnight is a grand voyage into the Deep South mythos. Across 12 to 15 hours, you'll find a new appreciation for folklore that you otherwise may never have heard of. South of Midnight is available to play on Xbox Series X/S and PC. Rusty Rabbit Rusty Rabbit is a side-scrolling Metrovidivian game where you hop, jump and dig your way through a 2D world in ruin. Earth has entered another ice age, leading to all humans abandoning the planet. Over time, a race of highly evolved rabbits stake their claim on the planet, salvaging any old technology they can find. The story and setting of the game are pretty unique and, at times, hilarious. The rabbits treat Peter Rabbit like a Bible, and are highly curious about the 'old ones' who left ages ago. As such, every rabbit is an explorer, tackling parts of Smokestack Mountain in search of junk, treasure, and answers. You play as Stamp, a cranky rabbit whose gravelly voice immediately tells its own story, that he's probably had a hard life. As a seasoned explorer trying to mind his own business, Stamp comes into contact with rival junk collectors and becomes caught up in their quest to discover the mountain's mysteries. All the while, Stamp discovers truths about his life, and his relationship with an estranged daughter. Gameplay is your classic platformer. Stamp can jump, sprint and grapple around the 2D environments with ease. Equipped with a digger, you must break blocks both to collect items to upgrade your mech and to clear a path through the many corridors of the mountain. There is a danger of repetition in the game. Thankfully, there's light combat sprinkled throughout, where you must fight various junk-inspired enemies dotted throughout. Throughout your excursions, there will be obstacles you won't be able to overcome until later, requiring you to learn new abilities, upgrade your mech, and return to unlock the mountain's secrets. Ultimately, Rusty Rabbit is a budget-friendly adventure for platform enthusiasts. If you're itching for a reasonable Metroidvania for a reasonable price, it's a hop in the right direction.
CNET
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Clair Obscur or Oblivion: Which Xbox Game Pass RPG Should You Play Next?
Last month was a big one for fans of Xbox Game Pass and role-playing games. On April 22, Bethesda announced that not only was the rumored Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster not just a rumor, it was also available on Microsoft's game subscription service that day. Then on April 24, Sandfall Interactive's highly rated debut game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched on the service, too. But if you're looking for something to dig into this weekend, which one should you start with? Both games are RPGs, which means you'll level up your characters and abilities in each, but that's where the similarities end. The settings, gameplay and stories are substantially different in each game. If you can't decide on which game to play first, here's what you need to know about Oblivion and Clair Obscur. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Bethesda Originally released in 2006, Oblivion is an open-world RPG set in a medieval world. It takes place after the events of The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, but you don't need to play Morrowind to enjoy Oblivion. In this game, a fanatical cult is trying to open gates to the demonic realm of Oblivion, and it's up to you to stop them and seal the gates forever. While Morrowind was another highly acclaimed game, Greg Kasavin wrote at the time that Oblivion was a step up. "Oblivion not only delivers everything that earned the Elder Scrolls series the devoted loyalty of a huge following of fans, but also significantly improves on the weaknesses of its 2002 predecessor, Morrowind," he wrote then. The remaster stays fairly loyal to the original. You can still roam the vast world of Tamriel, making friends and taking down enemies along the way. But there are a few quality-of-life changes and enhanced visuals. Travis Northup at our sister site IGN writes that the graphics upgrade is the most significant improvement, but nonplayer characters largely miss out on that particular benefit. According to Microsoft's Xbox site, some of the modernization improvements include better enemy scaling (an infamously unpopular feature of the original game), more autosave points and modifications to noncombat perks and other gameplay mechanics. Oh, and you can also sprint in this version -- you couldn't in the original. Xbox also said the combat mechanics are improved, but it's still real-time. That means you might have some frantic fights on your hands, but if you can outrun your enemy, you should be fine. Oblivion is a better choice for people looking for an open-world adventure where you can wander around and do whatever you want in whatever order you like. If you enjoyed the original Oblivion, are a fan of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim or like high-fantasy settings like Game of Thrones or The Wheel of Time series, give this game a try. But if you're looking for a polished experience that tells a more emotional story, it might not be the best option. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Microsoft Sandfall Interactive revealed its debut Japanese RPG-like game at the Xbox Games Showcase at GDC in March 2024. The game's story follows a group of people out to stop a being called the Paintress. Every year, the Paintress wakes up and paints a new number, and everyone that age vanishes -- when she paints 34, I'm a goner. You'll step into the shoes of Gustave (voiced by Charlie Cox) as he leads a team to find and stop the Paintress. Aside from the fantastical story, one of the things you'll notice about the game is the surreal and absurd visuals. These remind me of the game Psychonauts. Land masses float freely through the air while the Eiffel Tower tilts at an impossible angle and no one bats an eye. Watch this: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Obvious Skill Issue Ep 3 11:58 Guillaume Broche, Sandfall Interactive's founder and creative director, wrote online that the setting was inspired by France's Belle Époque. This late-1800s era is known for its optimism and romanticism, as well as technological, scientific and cultural innovations. Apart from the visuals, the combat is a mix between turn-based and real-time mechanics. That means while you and your enemy each take turns attacking each other, you can dodge or parry your enemies attack in real time. CNET's David Lumb noted Clair Obscur's combat as among the most interactive turn-based fights he's played. He also praised the Picto ability-equipping system that "satisfies a crunchy part of the brain that delights in overclocking a system willingly ripe for abuse from the determined player." While I played a few JRPGs like Final Fantasy games before, I was never a huge fan of of the genre. But after playing this game for a few hours, I'm hooked. The soundtrack also stands out, and is both haunting and beautiful at the same time. Clair Obscur is a good pick for people looking for satisfying combat and a deeply immersive game. If you like JRPGs like Final Fantasy or Persona, or the visuals of Psychonauts, you should boot up this game. But if you want to roam the world, make lasting choices and do things at your own pace, you might be better off with Oblivion. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate -- a CNET Editors' Choice award pick -- offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gets you access to a large library of games, with new titles like Avowed and Atomfall added monthly, plus other benefits, such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles. For more on Xbox, check out other games available on Game Pass Ultimate now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.
