The announcement of Oblivion Remastered presented a challenge to the Skyblivion development team, but Bethesda softened the blow with generous gestures towards the fan-led project. Now, the Skyblivion creators are showcasing the clear superiority of their work over the official remaster.
The official Skyblivion website has published an extensive gallery of side-by-side location comparisons. While the graphical fidelity might not match that of Unreal Engine 5, the fan project boasts a key element missing from Bethesda’s remaster: a comprehensive reimagining of the original Oblivion‘s locations.
Even a brief look at the comparisons reveals the meticulous approach of the Skyblivion team. Identical caves from the original Oblivion have been transformed with the unique look and scale they always needed. Daedric sanctuaries now resemble majestic shrines of ancient elves, and the Ayleid ruins truly evoke the feeling of ancient city remnants. The Skyblivion team has radically reworked both interiors and exteriors while largely maintaining an artistic style close to the original, though not universally.
Skyblivion is still slated for a 2025 release, with no specific date announced yet. More comparisons can be viewed [here](link to comparisons). It’s perhaps worth commending Bethesda once more: unlike many other publishers, the studio chose not to dismantle a decade of dedicated fan work with a simple request to their legal department.