In 2006, Bethesda was riding high on the success of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the momentum going, the developer began releasing small paid DLC packages. However, they inadvertently stirred up a storm with the release of their first DLC pack in April: horse armor. Even if you weren't into gaming back then, you've probably heard about the horse armor controversy. Although DLC was not new, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points (around $2.50 at the time) on the 360 Marketplace, caused a significant uproar due to its perceived lack of utility.
Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like horse armor are now the norm. Bethesda has cheekily reintroduced this concept with the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Announced alongside its shadow-drop, the remaster comes in both a base and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10 over the base price, the deluxe edition offers new quests for unique armors, additional weapon choices, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, horse armor once again—two sets, to be exact.
Interestingly, fans are taking this in stride. With nearly two decades having passed since the original controversy, gamers have grown accustomed to paying for cosmetic enhancements. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.
Many find it amusing that Bethesda is now playfully referencing what was once a significant scandal.
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 horse armor; it also boasts an early modding scene. Just hours after its launch, a few community mods surfaced on Nexus Mods, mainly focusing on minor customization options.
While we await more mods, delve into why some players believe today's release is more of a remake than a remaster and why Bethesda chose to label it "Remastered."
We've compiled a comprehensive guide to everything in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
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