Oblivion Remastered Reintroduces Paid Horse Armor DLC

In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glow of the triumph that was The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the fans engaged in the world of Cyrodiil, the studio began rolling out small, paid downloadable content (DLC) packages. However, they inadvertently spurred controversy with their initial release in April: horse armor. Even if you weren't deeply involved in the gaming scene back then, the horse armor controversy is likely familiar to you. While DLC was not new, the release of Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points (around $2.50 at the time) on the Xbox 360 Marketplace, sparked significant debate due to its perceived lack of utility.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic enhancements like horse armor have become standard fare in the gaming industry. This shift has enabled Bethesda to playfully revisit the concept with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside today's announcement and immediate availability of the remaster, we discovered that Oblivion Remastered will offer a base edition and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10 over the standard game price, those opting for the deluxe edition will receive new quests for unique armors, additional weapon choices, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and—yes—horse armor once more. This time, players can choose from two distinct sets.

Interestingly, the gaming community seems to be embracing this move with a sense of humor. Nearly two decades have passed since the initial shock of cosmetic DLC like horse armor, and players are now accustomed to paying for such aesthetic upgrades. As noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console digital add-ons in 2024 alone. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," Piscatella remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.

Many fans appreciate Bethesda's light-hearted nod to the infamous scandal, as seen in social media reactions:

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 also embracing the modding community. Just hours after the game's launch, a selection of community-created mods surfaced on the popular platform Nexus Mods, offering minor customization options.

While we anticipate more mods to emerge, you can delve into why some players consider today's release more of a remake than a remaster and Bethesda's rationale for labeling it as "Remastered."

For a deep dive into what Oblivion Remastered offers, check out our comprehensive guide, which includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, advice on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.

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