In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glory of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. To keep the excitement alive in Cyrodiil, they began releasing small paid DLC packages. However, the launch of their first DLC pack in April, the infamous horse armor, plunged them into unexpected controversy. Even if you weren't into gaming back then, you might have heard about the uproar caused by the Horse Armor Pack. Priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the 360 Marketplace, roughly $2.50, the armor's lack of utility sparked heated debates about the value of cosmetic DLC.
Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like horse armor are now a standard part of gaming culture. Bethesda capitalized on this shift with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, playfully reintroducing horse armor as part of the package. Alongside today's announcement and immediate availability of the remaster, we discovered that Oblivion Remastered will be available in a base and deluxe edition. For an additional $10, deluxe edition buyers will receive new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, two sets of horse armor.
The gaming community's reaction has been surprisingly positive. We're now nearly two decades removed from the era when cosmetic DLC was a novel and controversial concept. Today, players are accustomed to paying for such enhancements. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on digital add-ons for PC and console games in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.
Many fans find Bethesda's nod to the past amusing, appreciating the company's willingness to poke fun at 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 supports mods. Mere hours after the remaster's launch, a few community mods surfaced on Nexus Mods, offering 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 explore Bethesda's rationale for labeling it "Remastered."
For a deeper dive into Oblivion Remastered, check out our comprehensive guide, which includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
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