After more than a decade of anticipation, The Elder Scrolls community is closer than ever to revisiting Cyrodiil—this time in stunning detail. Skyblivion, the colossal fan-led project remaking The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion within the more modern Skyrim: Special Edition engine, is officially on track for a 2025 release.
What Is Skyblivion?
For those unfamiliar, Skyblivion is part of the TESRenewal project, a volunteer-driven effort dedicated to breathing new life into classic Elder Scrolls games using newer engines and technologies. Skyblivion’s mission? To completely rebuild Oblivion—one of the most beloved open-world RPGs of all time—inside the more capable and versatile Skyrim engine. This isn’t just a graphical facelift; it’s a full-scale remake of the 2006 classic, with overhauled visuals, improved gameplay mechanics, and a wealth of quality-of-life improvements.
A Decade in the Making
Development on Skyblivion began way back in 2012, shortly after Skyrim’s release. Over the years, the project has grown into one of the most ambitious fan remakes in gaming history. The team, made up entirely of volunteers, includes modders, artists, level designers, writers, and programmers—many of whom have gone on to work professionally in the gaming industry. Despite being unpaid, the team’s dedication to recreating Cyrodiil’s vast open world, rich questlines, and iconic locations has never wavered.
What’s New in Skyblivion?
The project isn’t content with just porting assets. Skyblivion is rebuilding every asset from scratch, from the towering White-Gold Tower to the sun-dappled forests of The Great Forest. Recently, the team showcased several breathtaking city redesigns, Ayleid ruins, and dungeon overhauls, proving that Cyrodiil has never looked this good. There are also modern gameplay enhancements, such as improved combat systems, better AI behaviors, and streamlined quest tracking, ensuring the experience feels contemporary while staying true to the source material.
They’ve also teased new music tracks, voice acting, and updated NPC models, helping to close the gap between fan-made mod and AAA production quality.
What Content Can Fans Expect?
Skyblivion aims to faithfully recreate Oblivion’s base game, including its main quest, side quests, guild storylines, and over 200 dungeons. At launch, it won’t include Shivering Isles or Knights of the Nine, though the team has hinted at potential post-release projects.
In addition to visual and technical upgrades, there are a few enhancements to immersion, like expanded landscapes, deeper lore integration, and improved environmental storytelling. While they remain faithful to the original vision, the team is also fixing some of Oblivion’s quirks—so no more seeing the same five faces on every NPC!
When Will It Release?
While there’s no hard release date yet, Skyblivion’s project lead has reaffirmed the 2025 target in their latest dev update. The team is actively recruiting additional volunteers to help meet the deadline, encouraging 3D artists, level designers, and programmers to contribute.
It’s worth noting that Bethesda is fully aware of Skyblivion and other TESRenewal projects. So far, they’ve supported these community efforts, allowing fans to continue without legal obstacles—a refreshing stance in an industry where fan projects are often shut down.
Why Does Skyblivion Matter?
Skyblivion isn’t just a nostalgia trip; it’s a testament to the power of fan dedication and community collaboration. Projects like this show what’s possible when passionate gamers unite behind a common goal. And with The Elder Scrolls VI still years away, Skyblivion offers a chance to explore a remastered Cyrodiil long before Bethesda returns to Tamriel.
What You’ll Need to Play
When Skyblivion finally releases, it will be 100% free—but you’ll need legal copies of both Oblivion (Game of the Year Deluxe) and Skyrim Special Edition on PC. The project won’t be available on consoles due to technical limitations and licensing constraints.
Final Thoughts
With Skyblivion’s 2025 release window drawing closer, there’s never been a better time to revisit Oblivion or explore the rich lore of Tamriel. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the franchise, this remake promises to deliver a modernized and expanded experience worthy of The Elder Scrolls legacy.
Key Takeaways
- Skyblivion is scheduled for release in 2025, bringing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion into the Skyrim engine.
- The mod will feature the complete pre-DLC world, quests, and systems of the original Oblivion game.
- The volunteer development team continues to make steady progress while seeking additional help to enhance the final product.
Development and Release of Skyblivion
Skyblivion has been in development for over a decade as a fan-made project to bring The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion into the more modern Skyrim engine. After years of dedicated work by volunteers, the project is finally approaching completion with a targeted release in 2025.
History and Progress Update
Skyblivion began as an ambitious total conversion mod that aims to recreate the entirety of Oblivion using Skyrim’s game engine. The development team, composed entirely of volunteers, has been working on this massive undertaking for approximately 13 years.
The project has seen steady progress in recent years. According to the official Skyblivion website, the team is maintaining a consistent level of activity in development. This has allowed them to finally set a release window of 2025.
The scope of the project includes recreating Cyrodiil’s landscape, cities, interiors, and quests. 3D artists have meticulously crafted assets to match the aesthetic of Oblivion while taking advantage of Skyrim’s improved graphical capabilities.
Expected Features and Enhancements
Skyblivion will include the complete pre-DLC world space of Oblivion, offering players the chance to revisit Cyrodiil with enhanced visuals and mechanics. All of Oblivion’s original quests will be playable in the remake.
The mod will update the UI elements while maintaining the feel of the original game. Players can expect significant visual improvements to:
- Landscapes: More detailed terrain and vegetation
- Architecture: Enhanced building models and textures
- Character models: Improved NPC appearances
- Lighting: Modern effects not possible in the original game
While the initial release will focus on the base game content, the team has indicated plans to potentially include the Shivering Isles expansion in future updates. The project remains independent from Bethesda, created entirely by fans who aim to preserve Oblivion’s unique charm while making it more accessible to modern players.
Gameplay and User Experience
Skyblivion aims to bring a fresh experience to fans of The Elder Scrolls series by reimagining Oblivion with modern gameplay elements while staying true to the original. The project focuses on both visual enhancements and improved gameplay mechanics.
Reimagined World and Story
Skyblivion recreates the entire world of Cyrodiil with enhanced graphics and detail. The project includes all major cities like Anvil and the complete world map from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Players will explore familiar locations with new visual fidelity.
The main storyline and quests from the original game remain intact but benefit from improved dialogue systems and quest tracking. Bethesda’s original narrative is preserved while gameplay mechanics are updated to feel more modern.
The developers have also worked on enhancing the original soundtrack with new music that complements the existing themes. This creates a nostalgic yet fresh audio landscape for both returning fans and new players.
Modding Support and Community
Skyblivion is built with modding in mind, allowing the community to further customize their experience. The development team has created tools that will help modders easily create content for the game after its 2025 release.
Volunteers have been crucial to the project’s development. The team welcomes skilled contributors to help polish the final product before launch.
The mod will be available on PC through Steam, requiring players to own legitimate copies of both Skyrim and Oblivion. This requirement honors Bethesda’s intellectual property rights while delivering a new way to experience The Elder Scrolls IV.
DLC content will not be included in the initial release but may be added later as separate projects. The team is focusing on delivering the base game experience first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fans of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion have many questions about the upcoming Skyblivion mod. Here are answers to some of the most common questions based on the latest information from the development team.
When is the expected release date for Skyblivion?
The Skyblivion team has confirmed they are aiming for a release in 2025. No specific date has been announced yet, but the project appears to be on track for this timeframe.
The development team has reported steady progress in key areas of the game. In recent updates, they’ve shared behind-the-scenes looks at what they’ve accomplished and what still needs to be finalized before release.
Will Skyblivion be available for Xbox upon release?
Currently, there has been no official confirmation about Skyblivion’s availability on Xbox platforms. The mod is being developed primarily for PC users who own both The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Console compatibility presents additional challenges due to modding limitations on these platforms. The development team has focused their attention on completing the PC version first.
Is there an anticipated release date for Skyblivion on PlayStation 5?
There is no confirmed release date for Skyblivion on PlayStation 5. Similar to the Xbox situation, the developers have not made specific announcements regarding PlayStation compatibility.
The technical requirements and platform restrictions for console modding may impact if and when Skyblivion becomes available on PS5. The primary focus remains on completing the PC version.
Will there be any costs associated with downloading Skyblivion?
Skyblivion is being developed as a free mod. Players will need to own legitimate copies of both The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion with all DLCs to play it.
This requirement exists because the mod uses assets from both games. The volunteer development team is not charging for their work on this passion project.
How can I track the development progress of Skyblivion?
The Skyblivion team regularly posts updates on their official website and social media channels. They have released several development update videos showing their progress.
For those interested in contributing, the project lead has publicly asked for volunteers to help make the mod the best it can be. Applications for volunteer positions can be submitted through their official channels.
Are there any plans to release Skyblivion as a standalone game?
Skyblivion is not planned as a standalone game. It will function as a mod that requires ownership of both Skyrim and Oblivion with their DLCs.
This approach allows the team to use assets from both games while remaining within legal boundaries. The project is a fan-made recreation, not an official Bethesda product or standalone release.
