Skyblivion, the large modding venture that’s remaking The Elder Scrolls IV in Skyrim’s engine, has simply proven off some contemporary quest gameplay at C3 (Group Creations Con) forward of its 2025 launch.
What was supposed to be about half an hour of quest gameplay was about 40 minutes, however hey, generally you simply stroll right into a constructing and an NPC you are used to being in a single place has determined to cheekily sit out of the way in which.
As you’d anticipate given the Skyblivion staff hit the key milestone of ending up landscaping work on the ultimate area of Cyrodiil they needed to end that key stage for – the Niben Basin and Valley – earlier this week, the gameplay proven off this time primarily centered on the realm in and across the metropolis of Cheydinhal.
We received fast runthroughs of two quests – the Fighters Guild one which duties you with resolving Biene Amelion’s debt and a real basic within the type of ‘A Brush with Demise’. If the latter’s identify would not ring a bell, it is the one which sees you stroll into darkish elf Rythe Lythandas’ painted world in an effort to free the poor artist with the magic brush.
In each instances, the factor that actually caught out was simply how detailed and polished Skyblivion’s worldspaces and the stuff contained inside them appears at this level in improvement. At one level, venture lead Kyle ‘Rebelzize’ Insurgent simply did the stroll into Cheydinhal I’ve achieved 1,000,000 instances in each vanilla and modded Oblivion, and it introduced a smile to my face to see how properly it appears the staff has maintained the nostalgic soul of the factor, whereas submitting away a few of its rougher, extra 2006 edges.
The painted world itself was an awesome instance of this – enjoying vanilla Oblivion in 2025, it appears like somewhat room that may not be too particular if it wasn’t in a position to lean into the sport’s already very oil paintingy aesthetic to kind one thing visually particular. In Skyblivion, it is a longer, extra totally fleshed-out dungeon that packs an identical visible punch regardless of Skyrim’s extra sensible artwork model, and ends in an setting intentionally textured to look similar to unpainted canvas.
One other element value selecting out right here was the mod’s new interplay menu UI, which has been overhauled into one thing distinctive that brings much more Oblivion vibes to assist offset the extra Skyrim-style stock, compass, and map the mod has – as you’d anticipate, given it is working in TES V. Additionally, whereas battling skeleton enemies, you could all of a sudden realise you’ve got simply killed one with a tail. Why? Properly, as a result of the modders have put collectively distinctive skeletons for elves and finest races, which is a step past even Skyrim.
There’s nonetheless no concrete launch date for the mod to slender down the final 2025 window it is had for a short while, however the modders did reiterate on this showcase: “We’re assured we will get it out this yr”.
What did you consider this newest have a look at Skyblivion? Tell us beneath and ensure to take a look at the interview we have actually simply achieved with Skyblivion venture lead Insurgent, particularly if you wish to know the way the modders really feel about these official Oblivion remake rumours.
