In 2006, Bethesda was driving high on the success of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. In an effort to maintain followers coming back to Cyrodiil, the developer began releasing small paid DLC packages for the game. Little did the corporate know that it was galloping headlong into controversy when it dropped its first DLC pack that April: horse armor.
Even when you weren't following video games on the time, you've probably heard of the horse armor controversy. Though DLC definitely existed pre-horse armor, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack (which price 200 Microsoft Points on the 360 Marketplace, roughly $2.50 on the time) actually prompted a stir due to the armor being primarily ineffective.
Now, in 2025, beauty upgrades corresponding to this are commonplace, which has allowed Bethesda to be a bit cheeky in its release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and as soon as again charge gamers additional for horse armor. As a half of at the moment's reveal and shadow-drop of the remaster, we discovered that Oblivion Remastered will embody each a base version and a deluxe version. For an additional $10 on prime of the bottom game price, deluxe version patrons will get new quests for distinctive armors, additional weapon choices, a digital artbook and soundtrack app… and yes, horse armor again. Two units, to be exact.
For probably the most half, followers appear to be taking this of their stride. We're nearly 20 years away from a time when beauty DLC like horse armor was a stunning factor to introduce, and gamers at this level are used to shelling out money for purely beauty upgrades. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella pointed out on BlueSky, video game shoppers within the U.S. spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run."
In truth, most people simply discover it funny that Bethesda seems comfortable poking fun at what was as soon as a large scandal.
PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0
— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025
Honestly I’ve to respect it. New gamers received't know this, however releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a refined reference to once they singlehandedly ruined the industry by promoting it the primary time round. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX
— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025
£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no method that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr
— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025
Oblivion Remastered doesn't simply have horse armor, it already has mods. A handful of group mods made their solution to standard web site Nexus Mods simply hours after Oblivion launched, though these principally quantity to small customization choices.
While we anticipate more mods to drop, you may learn up on why some players think today’s release is more remake than remaster and why Bethesda opted to give it that “Remastered” name in the first place.
We've received a complete guide to the whole lot you'll discover in Oblivion Remastered, together with an expansive Interactive Map, full Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and each Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and far more.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can discover her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to [email protected].