The recent release of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has caused a stir among fans, particularly due to a surprising change to the sneaking mechanics. Released on April 22, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, Oblivion Remastered was shadow dropped with little fanfare, but its unexpected shift in gameplay mechanics has captured the attention of many. The title quickly rose to become the third best-selling game of 2025, trailing only Monster Hunter Wilds and Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
In Oblivion’s original version, sneaking was relatively straightforward. Once players reached level 50 in the Sneaking skill, the weight of their boots no longer impacted their ability to remain undetected. This was a crucial perk for players who enjoyed playing in heavy armor, as they could still sneak around without worrying about the weight of their footwear. However, in Oblivion Remastered, this once-helpful feature has undergone a dramatic change.
A recent Reddit post by user voruvi uncovered the major overhaul in the remaster. Instead of the previous perk that allowed players to wear heavy boots without penalty, the new system only enables players to move “more quietly” upon reaching level 50 in Sneaking. This subtle, yet significant, alteration has left many players rethinking their approach to stealth, especially those who relied on heavy armor.
Further testing by voruvi revealed the extent of this change. In their experiments, they tested sneaking in no boots, light armor, and heavy armor. As expected, wearing heavy armor drew significantly more attention, making it harder to sneak past enemies undetected. The change means that players must now consider not only their armor but also the weight of their boots when attempting stealthy maneuvers.
While some players are disappointed by this shift, others see it as a more immersive and realistic approach to sneaking, forcing them to rethink how they build their characters for stealth gameplay. The modding community has already begun discussing potential workarounds to restore the classic system, though it’s unclear whether any solutions will be implemented soon.
With Oblivion Remastered already making waves in the gaming world, this major change to the sneaking system is just one of many adjustments that fans are still uncovering. As Bethesda continues to update and refine the remaster, it’s clear that Oblivion still has plenty of secrets waiting to be discovered.