The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake – which has now seemingly been confirmed to be a remaster – has been doing the rounds a lot recently, thanks to several credible sources claiming that Xbox will be shadow dropping it in April. This is a somewhat uncommon practice in which developers just release a game without announcing it well in advance, with the intention being that its sudden appearance generates hype and immediate sales. It has worked somewhat with previous Xbox titles like Hi-Fi Rush.

However, the most recent Oblivion remaster leaks have given us the best look at Xbox’s worst-kept secret, as numerous screenshots have been shared online. So far, Xbox has done little to stem the tide of leaks and articles from being pushed out, which, one can only imagine, indicates that this is probably coming out next week. Unfortunately, as exciting as this all is – I am a huge Oblivion fan, after all – the screenshots we’ve seen so far do not give me the most favorable impression of the Oblivion remaster.

Screenshots Of The Oblivion Remaster Have Leaked

A Huge Leak Has Revealed Lots Of Information

The studio alleged to be behind the Oblivion remaster, Virtuos, left the uploads page on its official website available to the public, allowing fans to swoop in and gain access to several screenshots from the Oblivion remaster. These images were, naturally, shared online, alongside store page screenshots showcasing that an infamous Oblivion DLC is returning alongside various editions. It was a major scoop and perhaps the final piece of evidence naysayers needed to know this remaster is really happening.

These leaks were initially shared via the r/gamingleaksandrumours subreddit before being uploaded to websites like Imgur. The majority of the images are just of various environments, although several of them have been significantly darkened, rendering them all but useless. Fortunately, a handful of them give fans a good insight into just how much of a glow-up the Oblivion remaster has received. Frankly, from these images alone, it would appear that this is far more of a remake, at least visually, than a remaster, as it looks several generations ahead of the original game.

Click here to view the Oblivion remaster leaked screenshots for yourself, including side-by-side comparisons, product screenshots, the official key art, and so much more.

Of course, this leak is the closest thing we’ve gotten to getting genuine evidence that the remaster is real. Prior evidence felt convincing, but as Xbox or Bethesda ever confirmed its existence, it was hard to know whether the project had been discontinued or was still in active development. However, as compelling as the leak is, if these screenshots do end up being real, it would appear that Virtuos has made a huge error with the Oblivion remaster that could make it a somewhat inferior alternative to the original.

The Oblivion Remaster Is Missing The Visual Identity Of The Original

It Doesn’t Look As Vibrant

The featured leaked images that are doing the rounds showcase a comparison between the original and the remaster, as well as some exterior locations. They all look incredible, with the alleged use of Unreal Engine 5 doing wonders for the game’s extremely outdated visuals. However, as technically proficient and next-gen as they look, the Oblivion remaster’s visuals are lacking the vibrancy and ethereal aesthetic of the original game, something that set it apart from its predecessor and successor.

Morrowind was a significantly darker and more monotone experience than Oblivion, sporting brown and yellow hues across its almost alien environments. Similarly, Skyrim’s adoption of the 2010s gunmetal gray aesthetic rendered its snow-capped mountains and forests a cold and harsh place to explore. By contrast, Oblivion was more fantastical and traditionally beautiful, leaning into the high fantasy aesthetic that makes the Elder Scrolls series so appealing.

It’s hard not to look at the majority of these and think that Oblivion’s bloom-heavy, vibrant, and verdant art direction has been lost in translation.

Unfortunately, the remaster’s visuals haven’t captured this, as, in the screenshots we’ve seen appear muted like Morrowind, thus threatening to ruin one of Oblivion’s best features. Of course, not every screenshot looks this way, with some looking a tad more green, but it’s hard not to look at the majority of these and think that Oblivion’s bloom-heavy, vibrant, and verdant art direction has been lost in translation.

The Oblivion Remaster Could Still Look Incredible

These Screenshots Don’t Tell A Complete Picture

All that being said, the Oblivion remaster will undoubtedly still look incredible. Some of these screenshots may have been taken during a particular time of day, specifically dusk or dawn, thus creating a more monotone, brownish hue. It is also possible that, to create a greater sense of diversity in the region of Cyrodiil, Virtuos has made some areas feel less vibrant. After all, there are those aforementioned screenshots full of greenery that made me long for the days of whimsical fantasy.

However, I can’t help but feel like the alleged use of Unreal Engine 5 could be to the Oblivion remaster’s detriment. While there are stylized games made with the engine, its infamously bad performance issues, coupled with its tendency to skew more towards photorealistic graphics, could take away from the appeal of Oblivion’s world. Of course, with the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster’s rumored release date around the corner, we’ll find out soon enough whether this new direction works.