Major development update for Skyblivion showcases it as a near-complete remake, featuring a colossal dungeon created from previously cut content.
In the world of modded gaming, Skyblivion is making waves as an ambitious remake of the classic Oblivion game within Skyrim. The latest development update promises exciting changes, particularly for the Imperial City and the expansion of Fort Sutch.
Skyblivion's developers have announced that the next dev diary will reveal what they have planned for the Imperial City. But the focus doesn't stop there. The team is working tirelessly to reimagine Oblivion from the ground up, with entirely new areas, dungeons, cities, and gameplay enhancements that bring the game in line with modern RPG standards.
One of the most intriguing changes is the expansion of Fort Sutch into an entire city ruin inhabited by bandits. Originally a planned eighth full city in Oblivion, Sutch was replaced with a single fort. However, evidence of Sutch the town remains in Oblivion due to journal entries, an early version of Oblivion's credits background, and the flat terrain around the fort.
The new biome for Oblivion gate dungeons is inspired by "The Sever" introduced in The Elder Scrolls Online. This stormy, acidic swamp environment adds a fresh and challenging twist to the gameplay.
Another significant change is the dramatic reconfiguration of Anvil, a coastal town in Oblivion. Skyblivion will transform Anvil into a horseshoe shape hugging a more prominent harbor, offering a new and immersive experience for players.
Beyond these expansions and reconfigurations, Skyblivion will retain the Dark Brotherhood quest and an unmarked side quest centring on Imperial Legion troops at Fort Sutch. This ensures that fans of the original game will find familiar elements in the remake.
The developers are also focusing on implementing classic Oblivion systems such as spell crafting, character classes and attributes, underwater combat, lockpicking, and NPC disposition, all adapted to the Skyrim engine. They are also working on visual compatibility of all wearable gear for every race in Tamriel, with particular attention to Khajiit and Argonians, improving aesthetics and immersion across races.
General quality-of-life improvements and fanmade gameplay tweaks are also being incorporated, ensuring that Skyblivion offers a richer and more enjoyable modded experience versus the official remaster.
Despite spending 55 hours in Oblivion Remastered, the author is excited to revisit Cyrodiil due to the changes and enhancements promised by Skyblivion. The project, described as a full-scale remake, not merely a graphical remaster, aims to provide a fresh experience with new content and gameplay changes embedded deeply into the game world and mechanics.
Skyblivion is being developed independently from Bethesda but with their friendly support, ensuring it offers a distinct and richer modded experience versus the official remaster. The developers aim to release the mod before the end of the year, making it an exciting prospect for fans of the Elder Scrolls series.
- For Skyblivion's next dev diary, the focus will be on the Imperial City, but other areas, such as Fort Sutch, are also receiving significant attention.
- The team is planning to reimagine the entire city of Sutch, which was originally a planned eighth city in Oblivion but replaced with a single fort.
- The new environment for Oblivion gate dungeons is inspired by "The Sever" from The Elder Scrolls Online, creating a stormy, acidic swamp setting.
- Anvil, a coastal town in Oblivion, will be transformed into a horseshoe shape hugging a more prominent harbor in Skyblivion, offering a new and immersive experience.
- The developers are committed to retaining classic Oblivion systems like spell crafting, NPC disposition, and underwater combat, re-engineered to blend seamlessly with the Skyrim engine.
- With the implementation of smart-home-devices, gadgets, and technology, Skyblivion aims to offer a higher quality of life and more enjoyable modded experience compared to the official remaster.
