Games Happy

Bethesda Softworks and Virtuos’ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered launched yesterday on Change 2 worldwide following its debut on PS5, Xbox Sequence, and PC platforms. I might be doing a full comparability masking the Change 2 port alongside the PS5 and Xbox Sequence X variations, however I wished to give attention to the hand held facet for right now on this preliminary impressions function. Since I did not have pre-release entry to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, my impressions are a bit late, however I have been very inquisitive about this port ever because it was introduced given the technical mess it’s in some features on different platforms. 

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered points nonetheless current on all platforms

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, having launched again in April 2025, nonetheless suffers from a number of points together with reminiscence leaks, glitches, efficiency points regarding shaders, a poorly applied 30fps cap, and freezing points. It’s a improbable wanting remaster / remake hybrid that has too many technical points to advocate with out huge caveats. It additionally seems to be fairly smooth in its efficiency mode on base PS5 and Xbox Sequence X. After taking part in it at launch on these consoles and having a depressing time on Steam Deck and ROG Ally, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Change 2 is spectacular, but in addition disappointing. 

To be clear, it is a nice port (all issues thought-about) of a sport that has too many technical points. My disappointment is principally as a result of Bethesda simply deserted each model of the sport quickly after launch and has shipped the Change 2 model with the identical points, albeit with added optimization. Even with all of the technical points, I want the brand new remaster and won’t return to the unique, however it’s embarrassing to see a literal numbered Elder Scrolls launch handled like this. Whereas the console variations nonetheless have points, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on PC handhelds is by far one of many worst PC releases I’ve performed in years.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Change 2 options

Earlier than attending to my efficiency and different impressions, the Change 2 port builders have performed lots proper with this model of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered exterior the optimization. It has touchscreen help for menus, nice HD rumble, mouse mode help, and movement controls. The textual content measurement choice additionally helps with handheld readability. The final level to notice is the sport is absolutely on cartridge solely on Change 2. The PS5 model which I purchased and the Xbox disc require a obtain for the complete sport to be playable. The Change 2 model has a patch, however it’s nonetheless playable off the cardboard. I might be retesting the load occasions as soon as I get the cartridge, however I’ve caught to taking part in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered through the inner storage on Change 2 for this text.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Change 2 handheld impressions

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered made an awesome first impression on Change 2 once I began a brand new character, but it surely froze after two minutes of taking part in after I pressed the house button and put the gadget to sleep for a minute to examine one thing. That is with it put in on the inner storage absolutely, however fortunately I wasn’t in a position to reproduce it. Resuming from an autosave in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered obtained me again and I used to be glad to see not one of the speedy and common UE5-related hitching I had on ROG Ally.  It truly seemed competent with the upscaling used as nicely.

After spending a number of hours with it, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered jogs my memory a number of Star Wars Outlaws in how sensible cuts under the PC model whereas using DLSS (and all of the Change 2-specific options I lined above) elevate this above making an attempt to run a poorly-optimized and demanding PC model on Steam Deck and ROG Ally. 

The opening tutorial and dungeon space held up comparatively nicely with respectable efficiency and good picture high quality. I actually love the rumble implementation right here, however I used to be curious to see how the open world holds up. Getting out of the sewer was the true take a look at and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered holds up nicely. 

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered’s points on Change 2 proper now are extra to do with how a lot of a technical mess the sport is within the first place and fewer to do with the Change 2. So far as I am involved, the Change 2 is an efficient handheld model all issues thought-about. I have not tried it docked but, however it is a a lot better transportable model than I anticipated given Bethesda’s different ports with their efficiency targets and the way demanding The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is. 

One ultimate factor I wish to observe about taking part in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Change 2 handheld is the upscaling cannot sustain with some features like distant character faces, hair, and even some bushes. These are minor points given how a lot better it holds up visually in comparison with my PC handhelds, however it’s price holding in thoughts if you wish to play it on the go.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Change 2 vs Steam Deck and ROG Ally

I redownloaded The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Steam Deck, ROG Ally, PS5, PS5 Professional, and Xbox final week to organize for masking the Change 2 model. The Steam launch is almost 120GB whereas the Change 2 model is below 60GB even with updates. I will cowl the consoles later and wished to give attention to the handhelds proper now. I additionally wished to see if Bethesda would truly patch the sport with the Change 2 launch. It’s “wanting into” PS5/Xbox/PC patches however nothing has been dated but. I do not anticipate a lot given how the sport was deserted kind of. 

With that out of the way in which, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Change 2 has some cuts under the PC handhelds in grass and bushes within the distance with another degree of element changes, but it surely excels above them in each different visible facet. This contains higher picture high quality, textures, and customarily is the perfect transportable model from the gadgets I personal. As for efficiency, the Change 2 wins on that entrance as nicely because the Steam Deck is not as steady. The Change 2 is not even near a locked 30fps expertise and it suffers from body pacing points like each different console within the 30fps mode, but it surely holds up higher than Steam Deck.

The ROG Ally (Z1 Excessive mannequin) is depressing even now on the subject of the way it feels because of the hitching and freezing. I might barely final an hour checking the early and mid sport saves I had since launch month. It has not improved in any respect. If the hitching wasn’t current, the ROG Ally can ship the perfect visible settings and body charge at 720p, however the Change 2’s upscaling delivers a greater resolve total. Like I mentioned earlier than, this seems like a Star Wars Outlaws scenario in how sensible cuts have been made under what was potential on PC in some features, but it surely makes use of the Change 2 options and DLSS to raise it to the one transportable model I might contemplate taking part in. 

The large concern proper now could be that each single model of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered nonetheless has a number of technical points together with the brand new Change 2 port. The Change 2 model is unquestionably spectacular given how the sport is on different platforms, but it surely nonetheless has most of the identical points together with freezing, reminiscence leak points, body pacing points, and extra. I will have new advisable settings for Steam Deck and ROG Ally as I revisit it throughout consoles later this week.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Change 2 load occasions in comparison with Steam Deck and ROG Ally

For this take a look at, I put in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered to the ROG Ally inner storage, Steam Deck OLED inner storage, and the Change 2 inner storage. I measured the time taken to get to the title display screen from the platform dashboard / Steam and likewise the time taken to load a save into the open world. The outcomes under are in seconds. I might be including extra take a look at instances once I examine Change 2 with PS5 and Xbox sooner or later.

Word: My ROG Ally Z1E is the non X mannequin so I get a warning about reminiscence when booting it up that provides 2-3 seconds on high to load. This may not occur on different ROG Ally fashions. 

As you possibly can see, the Change 2 holds up nicely towards the Steam Deck with it being a bit slower than Valve’s handheld, however is slower than the ROG Ally. I am curious how this compares to the bodily Change 2 model. 

Oblivion Remastered Change 2-specific points that have to be fastened

Other than the freezing concern I had pop up early on and as soon as later throughout gameplay, the Change 2 additionally seems to not cease the in-game clock in sleep mode. If you happen to care concerning the time performed when suspending a sport and never quitting it, maintain this in thoughts.

Past these points, I hope Bethesda continues to replace this port and repair it as a result of it’s already my favourite transportable model regardless of the problems. It could be good if we even get an uncapped choice for handheld play the place VRR can doubtlessly kind out among the annoying drops, however that is still to be seen. I’ll revisit The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on PS5, PS5 Professional, Xbox, and Change 2 docked within the close to future. Till then, the Change 2 launch when performed handheld is a strong port of a remaster that also has too many technical points for its personal good.