Latest news with #ToddHoward
Metro
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Elder Scrolls 6 is still on the way - here's what we know so far
Bethesda's sequel to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has been in development for years, but several rumours have teased what to expect. It's been 14 years since The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim first appeared in 2011, and since then Bethesda has done everything but release a sequel. Aside from putting Skyrim on every platform under the sun, the studio has released Fallout 4, Fallout 76, several The Elder Scrolls spin-offs, and a new sci-fi IP in 2023's Starfield. Just recently, Bethesda also launched a remastered version of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, presumably as a stop-gap for the next mainline instalment. For many who are still playing Skyrim, and now Oblivion Remastered, The Elder Scrolls 6 is probably one of the most anticipated games of the decade. If you're craving some kind of solace during the long wait for its release, we've assembled everything we know about Bethesda's pivotal sequel. Incredibly, The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced way back on June 10, 2018 at Bethesda's E3 event that year. Nothing was shown apart from a teaser trailer which showed off the logo, and a nondescript landscape. At the time, the game's director, Todd Howard, warned it would be 'a very long way off', and he wasn't lying. Since then, we've heard small updates on the game's progress. The Elder Scrolls 6 entered active production at Bethesda in 2023, following the release of Starfield, and it was playable via early builds in March 2024. As confirmed in a Telegraph interview with Todd Howard, the long-awaited sequel will also run on Bethesda's Creation Engine 2, the same engine used for Starfield (so, yes, that probably means the facial animation will still be bad). Bethesda has not announced a release date for The Elder Scrolls 6. However, according to Microsoft documents in the Federal Trade Commission case from 2023, the sequel is 'expected 2026 or later'. This was immediately put into question when Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said it would be 'five+ years away' in an interview in the same year – which suggests it wouldn't be out until 2028 at the earliest and, at that point, presumably on the next generation of consoles. Considering we've seen no actual footage of The Elder Scrolls 6, it's safe to say it will probably launch at some point after 2026 – unless Bethesda is planning the biggest surprise shadowdrop of all time. Bethesda hasn't revealed the setting, but rumours point to it either being Hammerfell and/or the neighbouring region of High Rock. Each mainline entry is named after an existing area within the fictional world of Tamriel, which is made up of nine provinces, and these two areas have not received their own mainline game yet. As for the gameplay, several rumours suggest dragons will be involved, along with naval battles, ship customisation, and underwater exploration. A leak from an alleged Bethesda environment designer suggests it will have Egyptian, Mediterranean and north African influences too in an 'explorable archipelago'. While Bethesda hasn't confirmed if The Elder Scrolls 6 will be exclusive to Xbox, following Microsoft's acquisition of the studio, documents released in 2023, as part of the FTC case, suggest that was the original plan. More Trending However, Xbox's strategy has changed quite drastically since then, with many Microsoft-published games now arriving on other platforms either at launch or just after. For example, Doom: The Dark Ages is set to launch across PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC simultaneously in May 2025, while Indiana Jones And The Great Circle arrived on PlayStation 5 just four months after it launched on Xbox and PC. Bethesda's last major role-playing title, Starfield, has remained an Xbox exclusive for nearly two years though, so there's no clear rule at the moment. While it's unclear if this multi-platform drive could reverse as we approach Microsoft's next console, based on its current strategy it seems unlikely The Elder Scrolls 6 will remain an Xbox exclusive for long – if at all. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Games Inbox: Will all video games be £80 from now on? MORE: Iconic Sega composer retires after 41 years, is immediately rehired MORE: Xbox games facing new £80 price tag as console prices rise by £50
Metro
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has a secret Todd Howard cameo
Bathesda games director and producer Todd Howard has a hidden cameo in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered but only certain players will be able to meet him. Many would describe The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered as more of a remake than a remaster, thanks to its upgraded graphics and numerous changes to the combat and user interface. Bethesda insists, however, that it's not a remake, since the goal was to recreate 'the original game […] as you remember playing it, but seen through today's technology.' As such, many of the original Oblivion's quirkier aspects, like the weird facial animations and various bugs, have remained intact. Recently, it's been discovered this also includes the secret cameo by executive producer Todd Howard. Diehard Elder Scrolls fans are no doubt already familiar with Howard's cameo and have likely checked to see if it was kept for the remaster, as demonstrated by TerakJK on YouTube. If you're interested in experiencing the cameo first-hand, the good news is that it's not especially difficult to find. The bad news is that it's only possible on the PC version. Todd Howard's cameo in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is located in a hidden room that's typically only accessible to developers, since it's used for testing and debugging purposes. The only way to access the room yourself is by using console commands on the PC, which are debugging tools that many use to activate cheats. Some of the cheats for the original game still work for Oblivion Remastered, including god mode and flight. By pressing the '~' button, you can open up a menu to input cheats. Type in the command 'coc toddtest', and you'll be instantly teleported to the testing room where Howard, or rather his character, is. Howard doesn't appear as himself in Oblivion, but rather as a character called Alban Corinis, who doesn't appear in the full game. If you talk to him, he'll say a line that's clearly voiced by one of the game's actual voice actors, but afterwards you'll be offered a selection of dialogue options. More Trending Click any of these and you'll hear a line voiced by Howard. Pick surprise, for example, and he'll say 'What? I didn't know that. How could this be?' in the least surprised tone imaginable. Obviously, Howard only lent his vocal chops for testing the disposition mechanic, where non-playable characters' opinions and feelings towards you are reflected by in-game choices, so expecting a genuine performance out of his cameo is perhaps too much. His character's disposition does change depending on what dialogue choices you pick though, so you can get Howard to profess his love for you or call you a b******, whichever you find most amusing. There are more characters to interact with in the room too and there's another testing room you can explore with the command 'coc testinghall,' but there's unfortunately no way to access any of them on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered price cut already available for PC MORE: Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered teased for Switch 2 as it tops sales charts MORE: Oblivion remaster mod support is only a matter of time as fans get to work
Business Mayor
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Bethesda officially reveals Oblivion Remastered, available today
Bethesda is making The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered official just days after the game leaked. Oblivion Remastered is a remaster of the nearly 20-year-old game, developed by Virtuous. Oblivion Remastered is shadow dropping today, and it's available on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X / S right now for $49.99, or as part of Xbox Game Pass. ' Oblivion was a real defining moment in the series and for how we make games as a studio,' says Todd Howard, studio head of Bethesda. The remastered version of Oblivion has overhauled graphics for modern hardware, and includes the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions. While the naming suggests this is a remaster of the original game, developer Virtuous has actually fully remade the title in Unreal Engine 5. Virtuous has produced several comparisons between the game's original 2006 release to Oblivion Remastered , and the differences are huge. Every single asset in the game was remade and created from scratch, and the game has a lot more realistic shadows. There's even a big improvement to the lip sync parts of the game, thanks to the latest technologies in Unreal Engine 5. Gameplay has also been modernized, with audio, UI, and leveling systems all updated. The new leveling system is 'the best of both worlds' of Skyrim and Oblivion , and there have also been modifications to encumbrance, non-combat perks, and other mechanics. Bethesda and Virtuous have even modernized and updated the third-person view in Oblivion and added sprinting to the game. There are improved UI for systems like Persuasion and Clairvoyance, as well as HUD, menu, and map reworks and improved enemy scaling. All characters have updated animations as a result of these big changes. Read More Honor of Kings gets a global rollout on June 20 on mobile 'We've modernized a lot, but it's still the same incredible adventure and the same carefully crafted world,' says Tom Mustaine, Bethesda's external projects and studio director, during a reveal stream. Bethesda is also releasing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition , which includes bonus quests, unique armor, weapon, and horse armor sets, a digital artbook, and the official soundtrack. Rumors of an Oblivion remaster originally appeared in 2023, thanks to documents in the FTC's case against Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition. An unannounced Fallout 3 remaster and another game in the Dishonored franchise were also part of Microsoft's documents. READ SOURCE
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Return to Oblivion: Remaster of iconic Elder Scrolls title brings gamers back to Tamriel
Return to Oblivion: Remaster of iconic Elder Scrolls title brings gamers back to Tamriel Psst. Hey you! Yes, you. We need to talk. We got the gates of Oblivion reopening before we got Elder Scrolls 6. In a video posted on April 22, video game publisher Bethesda surprised gamers by announcing that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is available for immediate download on Windows, Steam, PlayStation and Xbox platforms. The game is already surging in popularity, reaching over 130,000 concurrent players on Steam by 3 p.m. on launch day. Studio head Todd Howard gave a nod to a planned sixth installment in the video saying, "Obviously, we're working on the sixth chapter here, but what's great about The Elder Scrolls is being able to look back at all of the chapters." What is (are) The Elder Scrolls? "Mmmm that is an interesting question now, isn't it?" The Elder Scrolls is a series of role-playing games developed by Bethesda with five major installments: Arena (1994), Daggerfall (1996), Morrowind (2002), Oblivion (2006) and Skyrim (2011). Bethesda also released Elder Scrolls Online as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) in 2012. The series titles alludes to mythical and powerful ancient artifacts from the game universe. Elder Scrolls games are known for vast lore, open-world exploration and character customization. The games take place on the fictional continent of Tamriel, which blends medieval culture with fantasy elements. Players create a character and have a main storyline to progress through, along with a huge variety of side quests that allow each player to have a unique experience. What is Oblivion? Originally released on Windows and Xbox 360, and later for Playstation 3, Oblivion takes place in the province of Cyrodiil which is home to Imperial City, Tamriel's capital. The main storyline involves the player discovering Oblivion Gates opening up across the land. The gates are fiery magic portals that release hostile creatures called Daedra from the hellish plane of Oblivion upon Cyrodiil. The player develops skills, uncovers information and fights enemies to find out why the portals are opening and how to close them. Oblivion, along with Morrowind and Skyrim, was recognized as Game of the Year by multiple outlets. Oblivion is estimated to have sold over nine million copies in the first nine years of its release. How is the remastered version different from the 2006 release? Bethesda worked with video game developer Virtuos to remaster Oblivion using Unreal Engine 5, a 3D computer graphics game engine. Here are some of the changes announced in the release video: The remaster includes all expansions to the original game. New atmospheric effects improve lighting and shadows. Players can now sprint in the game. Different races of characters now have appropriate audio for their voices. Lip-syncing is improved for non-human creatures and in dialogues. The remaster allows players to seamlessly switch between first- and third-person. The approach to leveling incorporates elements from both Oblivion and Skyrim. Combat now includes sound effects, visual effects, hit reactions and crosshairs. And yes, you can still buy yourself some horse armor. Contributing: Shawn J. Sullivan
Mint
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Bethesda's Oblivion Remastered now available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC: Check prices and what's new
Bethesda has officially released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Tuesday, offering thousands of gamers the chance to relive the 2006 classic with modern enhancements. This shadow-drop release follows a leak that got fans buzzing, and the remaster is now available across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developed by Virtuous, the remaster brings significant updates to the beloved RPG, offering a fresh coat of paint alongside revamped gameplay mechanics, reported Hindustan Times. Todd Howard, Bethesda's studio head, shared his thoughts on the remaster: "Oblivion was a real defining moment in the series and for how we make games as a studio." The remaster is designed to both appeal to long-time fans and entice newcomers to the series with its updated visuals, gameplay adjustments, and the inclusion of all original downloadable content (DLCs), such as Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine. For PlayStation 5 users, the remaster can be purchased digitally through the PlayStation Store for ₹ 4578, with a Deluxe Edition priced higher at ₹ 5411, featuring additional content like new weapons and the infamous horse armour. While physical copies may surface at retailers like Walmart and GameStop, the digital version is expected to be the primary option at launch. Xbox Series X|S owners can grab Oblivion Remastered from the Microsoft Store , with a Deluxe Edition offering extra bonuses. Subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate can enjoy the game at no additional cost, available on both Xbox consoles and PC from day one. On PC, the game can be found on Steam, Windows Store, or via Xbox Game Pass. The standard edition is priced similarly at ₹ 4578, with potential discounts available through third-party resellers like Instant Gaming. For those with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, the game is accessible at no extra charge, making it a cost-effective option for subscribers. The remaster utilises Unreal Engine 5, bringing a complete visual overhaul with improved lighting, more detailed character models, and an overall sharper look. The game's combat has also been modernised, with Souls-like blocking mechanics, refined archery, a more complex stamina system, and enhanced stealth options. All of the original DLCs are included, preserving the expansive world of Oblivion in a more polished form. The remaster is a substantial download, requiring around 120GB of storage, so players should ensure they have sufficient space. Bethesda unveiled the remaster in a livestream event on April 22, 2025, further igniting excitement for this long-awaited update to a fan-favourite game. First Published: 22 Apr 2025, 11:29 PM IST
