Oblivion Remastered Reintroduces Paid Horse Armor DLC

In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the acclaim of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the momentum going, the developer introduced small paid DLC packages for the game. Little did they anticipate the controversy that would ensue with the release of their first DLC pack in April: horse armor. Even if you weren't a gamer back then, you might have heard of the infamous horse armor controversy. While DLC was not new, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the 360 Marketplace (roughly $2.50 at the time), sparked significant debate due to its perceived lack of utility.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like horse armor have become a norm. Bethesda has embraced this shift with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, playfully reintroducing horse armor as part of the game's deluxe edition. Alongside today's reveal and surprise launch, it was announced that Oblivion Remastered comes in two editions: a base edition and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10, the deluxe edition offers new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, horse armor—two sets, to be exact.

For the most part, fans are taking this in stride. Nearly two decades since the initial shock of cosmetic DLC, players are now accustomed to spending money on such enhancements. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.

The general sentiment among fans is one of amusement at Bethesda's playful nod to what was once a major 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's already receiving community mods. Just hours after its launch, several mods appeared on popular site Nexus Mods, primarily focused on minor customization options.

While we await more mods, you can delve into why some players believe today’s release leans more towards a remake than a remaster and the reasoning behind Bethesda's choice of the "Remastered" label.

We've put together a comprehensive guide to everything you'll find in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.

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