In a rare and wholesome gesture in the gaming world, Bethesda has gifted the Skyblivion team free keys to Oblivion Remastered, showing continued support for the long-running fan project even as it prepares to release its own official remake.
The Skyblivion project—a community-driven remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion built entirely in the Skyrim engine—has been in development since 2012, powered solely by passionate volunteers. Despite the recent shadow-dropped release of Oblivion Remastered on April 22, Bethesda’s relationship with the Skyblivion modders remains not only positive but celebratory.
Huge thanks to our friends @BethesdaStudios for their continued support of #Skyblivion!
As massive fans, we’re beyond grateful for the generous gift of Oblivion Remastered game keys for our entire modding team! This means so much to us. Thank you for everything, @bethesda. pic.twitter.com/vLsuzhdgkX
— Skyblivion (@TESRSkyblivion) April 22, 2025
Bethesda’s move stands in stark contrast to how some game companies handle fan-led projects. While publishers like Take-Two Interactive and Nintendo have notoriously issued takedown notices and pursued legal actions against modders, Bethesda continues to embrace the modding community—a philosophy that has long been part of its DNA.
This supportive approach has allowed mods to thrive within the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, often extending the life and popularity of titles well beyond their official support windows.
With Skyblivion slated for a 2025 release, now coinciding with the official Oblivion Remastered, fans are eager to see both versions breathe new life into the classic RPG. And thanks to Bethesda’s gracious gift, the spirit of collaboration—not competition—defines this unique moment in gaming history.