In 2006, Bethesda was riding the wave of success with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the momentum going and fans engaged in the world of Cyrodiil, the developer began releasing small, paid DLC packages. However, their first release in April, the Horse Armor Pack, stirred up quite the storm. Priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 Marketplace—roughly $2.50 at the time—it was met with controversy due to its perceived lack of utility.
Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades have become a staple in gaming. Bethesda has cleverly revisited this concept with the release of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered*. As part of the game's reveal and immediate launch, players have the option to purchase a base edition or a deluxe edition. The deluxe edition, which costs an additional $10, offers new quests for unique armors, extra weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and yes, horse armor once again—available in two sets.Today's gaming community seems to be taking this in stride. The concept of paying for cosmetic DLC is no longer novel, and players are accustomed to such expenditures. As noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky, in 2024, U.S. gamers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," Piscatella remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.
Many fans find Bethesda's nod to the past amusing, seeing it as a playful acknowledgment of a once-controversial move.
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 is not just about horse armor; it's also mod-friendly. Just hours after its release, a few community mods appeared on the popular site Nexus Mods, mainly offering minor customization options.
While we await more mods, dive into our detailed coverage on why some players consider today’s release more of a remake than a remaster and the reasoning behind Bethesda's choice to label it "Remastered."
For a complete experience, check out our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an expansive Interactive Map, thorough Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, and Things to Do First, among other resources.
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