In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glory of the successful release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the excitement alive, the studio introduced small paid DLC packages for the game. However, the launch of their first DLC pack in April that year, horse armor, sparked a major controversy. Even if you weren't an avid gamer back then, you might have heard of the horse armor debacle. While downloadable content (DLC) had existed before, the Oblivion Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points (about $2.50 at the time) on the Xbox 360 Marketplace, stirred up a storm due to its perceived lack of utility.
Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like horse armor have become a standard in the gaming industry. This has enabled Bethesda to humorously revisit the past with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. The remaster, unveiled and shadow-dropped today, offers two versions: a base edition and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10 over the base game price, the deluxe edition includes new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, of course, horse armor—two sets, to be exact.
The fanbase has largely taken this reintroduction in stride. Nearly two decades have passed since cosmetic DLCs like horse armor were a novel and controversial concept. Today's gamers are accustomed to paying for cosmetic enhancements. As noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons in 2024. Piscatella quipped, "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run."
Many fans find Bethesda's light-hearted nod to the past amusing, viewing it as a playful acknowledgment of what was once a significant 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 has already seen the addition of mods, with a few community mods appearing on the popular website Nexus Mods shortly after the game's launch. These mods primarily offer minor customization options.
While awaiting more mods, you can explore why some players believe today's release leans more towards a remake than a remaster and why Bethesda chose the "Remastered" label.
For a deep dive into Oblivion Remastered, check out our comprehensive guide, which includes 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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