Everything Included in the Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition

The release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered marks a significant milestone for fans of the classic 2006 RPG. Developed through a collaboration between Bethesda Game Studios and Virtuos, this remaster brings the province of Cyrodiil into the modern era using Unreal Engine 5. For those looking to dive back into the gates of Oblivion, the Deluxe Edition offers a collection of digital bonuses and exclusive content that expands upon the base experience.

The Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition is priced at a premium tier—typically $59.99, compared to the $49.99 standard edition—and is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a future release scheduled for the Nintendo Switch 2 in August 2026. This article provides an exhaustive breakdown of everything included in the Deluxe Edition, the technical upgrades powering the remaster, and whether the extra investment is justified for new players and returning veterans alike.

Detailed Breakdown of Deluxe Edition Content

The Deluxe Edition is designed as a comprehensive package for players who want the complete "anniversary-style" experience of Oblivion. While the base remaster already includes all historical expansions, the Deluxe Edition adds specific cosmetic and quest-based content that is not available in the standard version unless purchased as a separate "Deluxe Upgrade."

Unique Equipment and Quests

The centerpiece of the Deluxe Edition is the inclusion of brand-new quests designed to reward players with high-tier, lore-friendly equipment. These items are themed around two of the most influential entities in the Elder Scrolls mythos: Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, and Mehrunes Dagon, the Prince of Destruction.

• Akatosh-Themed Armor and Weapons: Players can embark on a specific questline to recover a set of Plate Armor blessed by the Nine Divines. In the original 2006 game, high-level heavy armor often felt generic once players reached the Daedric tier. This new set provides a visually stunning alternative with high-resolution gold and silver filigree that utilizes Unreal Engine 5’s PBR (Physically Based Rendering) to react realistically to Cyrodiil’s sunlight.
• Mehrunes Dagon-Themed Set: For those leaning into a more chaotic or "evil" character build, the Mehrunes Dagon quest provides dark, jagged aesthetic gear. This set features unique enchantments that synergetically interact with the game’s overhauled magic system, offering bonuses to destruction spells and blade damage.

The Return of the Horse Armor

In a move that serves as both a nod to gaming history and a genuine content addition, the Deluxe Edition includes the infamous Horse Armor sets. Originally released in 2006 as one of the first examples of modern micro-DLC, the Horse Armor has been fully reimagined for the remaster. Rather than just a cosmetic overlay, the remastered Horse Armor features high-fidelity textures and provides actual defensive utility for your steeds, which are now more durable and capable of surviving encounters with leveled wilderness creatures like Timber Wolves or Will-o-the-Wisps.

Digital Extras and Multimedia

Beyond in-game content, the Deluxe Edition serves as a collector’s digital vault:

• Digital Artbook: This app features high-resolution concept art from both the original 2006 development and the new assets created for the 2025 remaster. It provides insight into how Virtuos translated the "watercolor" aesthetic of the original game into the photorealistic environments of Unreal Engine 5.
• Original Soundtrack App: Featuring the legendary compositions of Jeremy Soule, the soundtrack app includes all original tracks remastered for high-fidelity audio systems. This includes the iconic "Reign of the Septims" main theme and the ambient exploration tracks that define the atmosphere of the Imperial Province.

Comparing the Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition

To understand the value of the Deluxe Edition, it is essential to look at what the Standard Edition (Base Game) already provides. Bethesda has been generous with the base remaster, ensuring that no major story content is locked behind the premium tier.

The "All 8 Minor DLCs" included in both versions refer to the historical add-ons: Fighter's Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery, and the original Horse Armor Pack. The Deluxe Edition's "Unique Equipment Quests" are entirely new additions created specifically for the 2025 remaster.

Technical Overhaul: Unreal Engine 5 and the Graphics Pipeline

The most significant draw of Oblivion Remastered is its technical foundation. Unlike a simple "upscale" or "HD texture pack," this project utilizes a hybrid engine approach. The core logic, physics, and AI scripts still run on the original Gamebryo-based architecture to preserve the game’s unique "jank" and unintended emergent gameplay, but the entire rendering pipeline has been moved to Unreal Engine 5.

Lumen and Global Illumination

One of the biggest criticisms of the original 2006 Oblivion was its "bloom" effect, which often made the world look overly blurry or washed out. In the remaster, Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen provides real-time global illumination. When you walk through the Great Forest near Chorrol, sunlight filters through the canopy dynamically. The shadows cast by individual leaves move as the wind (simulated by new physics assets) blows through the trees. The interior of the Great Chapel of Talos in Anvil now features light streaming through stained-glass windows that accurately colors the floor and pews based on the time of day.

Nanite and Environmental Detail

The use of Nanite allows for massive increases in geometric detail without the performance hits typically associated with high-polygon models. The cobbled streets of the Imperial City are no longer flat textures with bump maps; every stone is a 3D object with its own height and shadow. The iconic Ayleid ruins, which were somewhat repetitive in the original, now feature intricate carvings and moss growth that look distinct in every dungeon.

Texture Resolution and PBR

Every texture in the game has been replaced with 4K assets. However, rather than just sharpening the old images, the team used Physically Based Rendering. This means metals (like Mithril or Ebony armor) reflect light like real metal, while the leather of a Dark Brotherhood cowl absorbs light and shows visible grain and wear. For players using the Deluxe Edition’s Akatosh armor, the PBR effects are particularly noticeable, as the gold trim glints realistically when you rotate the camera in the third-person view.

Gameplay and Quality of Life Improvements

While the visuals are the headline, the "remastered" experience goes deeper into how the game actually plays. Bethesda and Virtuos addressed several "pain points" that have bothered players for nearly two decades.

The Reworked Leveling System

The original leveling system in Oblivion required "efficient leveling"—the practice of meticulously tracking skill increases to ensure a +5 bonus to attributes. Failure to do this often resulted in the player becoming weaker relative to the world as they leveled up.

The remaster introduces a hybrid system influenced by Skyrim. While attributes like Strength, Endurance, and Luck remain, the game now provides more flexibility. Players can choose to distribute points more freely, and the "leveled world" has been capped. You will no longer encounter common bandits wearing full Daedric armor just because you reached Level 30. This change alone makes the Deluxe Edition’s new quests much more enjoyable, as you can tackle them when it fits your character’s story rather than when the math dictates it.

UI and Menu Redesign

The original "book-style" menu, while charming, was cumbersome for modern resolutions. The remaster features a redesigned HUD and menu system. It retains the parchment aesthetic but scales properly to 4K and ultrawide monitors. The map of Cyrodiil is now high-resolution, allowing you to see topographical details that were previously a smudge of brown and green. Inventory management has been streamlined, with better sorting options for potions, scrolls, and miscellaneous items like Welkynd Stones.

Combat and Movement

A major addition is the dedicated "Sprint" button, a feature noticeably absent from the 2006 original. Furthermore, combat feels more responsive due to updated animations. While it isn't a full action-RPG overhaul like Dark Souls, the "weight" of a shield block and the impact of a warhammer feel more substantial. The "DualSense" features on PlayStation 5 add haptic feedback to spellcasting; you can feel the crackle of a Shock spell in the triggers or the tension of a bowstring.

The Complete Story Experience: DLCs and Expansions

Regardless of whether you choose the Standard or Deluxe Edition, the remaster includes the two massive expansions that defined the post-launch life of the original game.

Shivering Isles

Widely considered one of the best expansions in RPG history, Shivering Isles takes players to the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. In the remaster, the transition from the "Grey March" to the vibrant, mushroom-filled landscapes of Mania and the murky swamps of Dementia is a showcase for the new color grading and HDR support. The character of Sheogorath, voiced by Wes Johnson, has had his dialogue cleaned up for better audio clarity, and his throne room in New Sheoth looks more imposing than ever with Unreal Engine 5’s lighting.

Knights of the Nine

This expansion focuses on the Crusader’s Relics and the return of the sorcerer-king Umaril the Unfeathered. The questline takes you across all of Cyrodiil to visit the shrines of the Nine Divines. In the remaster, the "Crusader’s Armor" you assemble looks magnificent, and the final battle in the sky above the Imperial City is a technical marvel compared to the 2006 version, featuring improved draw distances and particle effects for the magical combat.

Platform-Specific Features and Performance

The Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition is optimized differently across various hardware platforms.

PC (Steam and Windows)

The PC version offers the highest ceiling for performance.

• Minimum Requirements: Intel Core i7-6800K / Ryzen 5 2600X, 16GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1070 Ti.
• Recommended Requirements: Intel i5-10600K / Ryzen 5 3600X, 32GB RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 2080 or RX 6800 XT.
• SSD Requirement: A 125GB SSD is mandatory. Due to the way Unreal Engine 5 streams assets via Virtual Shadow Maps and Nanite, traditional HDDs are unable to keep up with the data throughput, leading to significant stuttering.

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S

On consoles, players can choose between "Fidelity" and "Performance" modes.

• Fidelity Mode: Native 4K at 30 FPS with maximum Lumen and Nanite settings.
• Performance Mode: Dynamic 4K (scaling down to 1440p) at 60 FPS.
• Xbox Series S: Targets 1080p at 60 FPS or 1440p at 30 FPS.
• PS5 Pro: Features an "Enhanced" mode that utilizes PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) to provide 4K at a stable 60 FPS with improved ray-traced reflections in the water of Lake Rumare.

Nintendo Switch 2

Scheduled for 2026, the Switch 2 version will include the Deluxe Edition content as well. While it won't match the PS5 in raw graphical power, it is expected to utilize NVIDIA’s DLSS technology to provide a stable 1080p docked experience that far exceeds the visual quality of the original Xbox 360 version.

Experience-Based Review: Returning to the Imperial Province

In my hours spent testing the Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition, the first thing that struck me wasn't the graphics, but the sound. The team at Virtuos didn't just remaster the music; they recorded new ambient dialogue for all in-game races. In the 2006 original, you would often hear the same three voice actors for every High Elf, Orc, or Argonian. Now, there is a much broader range of voices, making the streets of Skingrad and Cheydinhal feel like actual melting pots of Tamrielic culture.

Stepping out of the sewers for the first time—the famous "exit moment"—is breathtaking in 4K. The draw distance is essentially infinite. You can see the White-Gold Tower from the borders of Skyrim or Valenwood. The Deluxe Edition’s Akatosh quest is a highlight for mid-game players. It doesn't just hand you the armor; it requires you to solve puzzles in a new dungeon that feels like it was designed with 2025 sensibilities—better pacing, more environmental storytelling, and a boss fight that uses the improved combat mechanics effectively.

As for the "Horse Armor," it’s a delightful inclusion. Seeing your horse clad in polished steel as you ride through the rain toward Kvatch feels genuinely "epic" in a way that the original DLC never quite achieved. It’s a self-aware nod from Bethesda that they understand their own history, turning a meme into a high-value asset for the remaster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the Deluxe Edition include the base game?

Yes, the Deluxe Edition is a full bundle. It includes the base game, all historical DLCs (Shivering Isles, etc.), and the new exclusive digital content.

If I already own the Standard Remaster, can I upgrade?

Yes, a "Deluxe Upgrade" is available on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Store for approximately $10-$15, granting you access to the new quests, the artbook, and the soundtrack.

Are mods supported in the Remastered version?

While the engine has shifted to Unreal Engine 5 for rendering, the core data structures remain similar to the original. However, because of the engine change, old mods from the 2006 version are not compatible out of the box. Bethesda has indicated that a new version of the Construction Set will be released to support the remaster's modding community.

Is the "levelling bug" fixed?

The remaster introduces a "Standardized Growth" toggle in the options. When enabled, it removes the need for efficient leveling, allowing players to progress naturally without worrying about missing attribute bonuses.

Is there a physical version of the Deluxe Edition?

Yes, a physical edition has been released for PS5 and Xbox Series X. For the Nintendo Switch 2 release in 2026, a physical cartridge containing the full game and all Deluxe content has also been confirmed.

Conclusion and Summary

The Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition is the definitive way to experience one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. While the Standard Edition is excellent for those who just want the core story and the graphical upgrade, the Deluxe Edition’s $10 price premium is easily justified by the new quest content and the high-quality digital bonuses.

Key Takeaways:

• Visuals: Full Unreal Engine 5 overhaul with Lumen and Nanite.
• Content: Includes the base game, Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and all minor DLCs.
• Deluxe Exclusives: New Akatosh/Dagon quests, reimagined Horse Armor, digital artbook, and soundtrack app.
• Improvements: Modernized leveling, UI, sprinting, and race-specific voice acting.
• Platforms: Available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S; coming to Switch 2 in 2026.

Whether you are a newcomer to the Elder Scrolls series or a veteran who has spent hundreds of hours in the Shivering Isles, this remaster captures the soul of the 2006 classic while shedding the technical limitations of the past. The Deluxe Edition simply adds the final layer of polish and prestige to an already legendary adventure.