Following a slew of successful remasters and remakes of beloved IPs, The Elder Scrolls Oblivion is next in line to receive a major revamp. The game is expected to launch as early as next week, and leaks have already given fans their first look at its new visual makeup.

Virtuos’ work is clearly a major technical upgrade over the original, but fans have been left underwhelmed. In fact, many argue the new screenshots look worse, largely due to lacking the artistic direction of The Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Why it matters: This is not the first time fans have criticized a remake for changing the visual style of an established classic. Such instances highlight why remakes and remasters can be so challenging for developers. The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remake Criticism via X
Following the leaks, fans were quick to comment on various elements of the new screenshots.

One Twitter user noted that the original game has a greener look than the remake’s brown visual style. Others stated that this could be addressed by mods in the future or potential time-of-day settings implemented by Virtuos.

One user even compared the visual style to the PS3 and Xbox 360 era’s “piss filter.” This term was coined after games began to go for a darker look to portray serious stories and narratives.

Why did they add a piss filter?

-CapCorgi

Similar comments were made on platforms like Reddit, with users complaining about the remake going for an overly realistic look.

It looks like trash. Color graded into generic “realistic” look, I’d rather replay the original.

-u/nora_sellisa

An Official Look At The Remake Is Coming Soon
As expected, some fans have also been pleased by the leaks. Many have been pleasantly surprised by the fact that Virtuos has offered more than minor visual tweaks. Ultimately, the reactions are split for the time being.