The Oblivion Remastered was a success but this is why everyone is hyped right now. Skyrim Grandma is back! And she’s playing the remaster!
Shirley Curry, better known as the internet’s beloved “Skyrim Grandma,” is back. This time, she’s gone from Skyrim’s snowy peaks for the golden hills of Cyrodiil. The 89-year-old YouTube icon has officially begun her journey in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, and we couldn’t be happier. From a retirement announcement to this, it’s really unexpected.
Her warm, meandering commentary and curiosity are something we all missed and welcome wholeheartedly. We can’t wait to see more of her with her being confirmed as an NPC in The Elder Scrolls 6. Bethesda should’ve really added her to the Oblivion remaster too.
The Oblivion Remastered has been graced with the presence of the Skyrim Grandma
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Shirley Curry, who turned 89 in April, surprised her 1.3 million YouTube subscribers with two new videos over the weekend titled Oblivion Remastered #1: Learning and #2: Still Learning. This is her first official experience with the world of Cryodiil and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. And her familiar greeting, “Good morning grandkids,” has been heard once again, this time as she steps into the world of Cyrodiil.
After publicly retiring from gaming videos in late 2024 due to burnout and a loss of motivation, many fans assumed Curry was permanently done with Let’s Plays. At the time, she said she was tired and simply no longer found it fun. Which is a very fair thing to say, but it seems like that burnout didn’t last very long.
And as you’d expect, Skyrim Grandma is also struggling with Oblivion’s notoriously clunky mechanics. In her first two videos, she complained about the “ugly movement” and struggled with lockpicking. But luckily, her community has come to her aid with warm encouragement and practical tips.
While she may not be as familiar with Oblivion’s controls or interface, the joy she finds in simply looking at flowers or strolling past a quiet riverbank remains untouched. And for us fans, it’s an incredibly wholesome and historic moment. The Reddit thread discussing her return is full of comments like “She’s the hero that Cyrodiil needs” and “We are so back.” And it’s true.
We can’t wait to see more of her
What kind of NPC will she be in TES6? | Image Credit: @BethesdaSoftworks/YouTube
Curry’s relationship with the Elder Scrolls franchise is legendary. She first gained widespread attention in 2015 for her Skyrim Let’s Plays. Her playthrough was like the combination of a storybook with the wonder of an open-world RPG. Fans even suggested that Bethesda should’ve skipped The Elder Scrolls 6 and added her to the Oblivion Remaster.
That’s in reference to the petition that fans had in 2019. At the time, Todd Howard answered our pleas in a live stream, saying, “That petition for Skyrim Grandma we did hear, and she will be immortalized in the game.” (via VG247) The Skyrim Grandma also made it to the 8-minute anniversary video, where we saw her being scanned for a virtual model to be made.
Curry’s unexpected return might not mean she’s fully back, but it’s more than enough. Skyrim Grandma shows us what it means to truly play, not to win, not to rush, but to explore and take in the meticulously designed world. And really, isn’t that what the Elder Scrolls has always been about? Welcome to Cyrodiil, Shirley. We missed you.
