Shadow Drop, Huge File Size… What Is Bethesda Really Planning?

Bethesda just surprised everyone with a big announcement — The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is about to be revealed through a live stream, and people are excited. 

The classic RPG is getting a fresh update; who’s not going to be excited? But here’s the thing: the remaster comes with a massive 120GB install size. Yep, that’s no typo. Let’s put that into perspective: the original 2006 Game of the Year Edition of Oblivion was only about 4.6GB and included all the expansions. 

Now, a remaster of that is over 26 times bigger. So, the big question is: what’s taking up all that space? And why now?

First off: Why 120GB?

With all the tech today — like 4K textures, ray tracing, and high-quality sound — it makes sense that a next-gen remaster might be bigger. If Oblivion Remastered is built on Unreal Engine 5, as rumors suggest, then a lot of that size is probably due to modern assets, advanced lighting like Lumen, and detailed environments powered by Nanite. 

It might also include all DLCs, upgraded voiceovers, and new ambient sounds to make Cyrodiil feel alive again.

But 120GB? That’s entering Red Dead Redemption 2 territory. Unless this game is completely restructured from the ground up, the file size feels… excessive. And strangely, we still haven’t seen any actual gameplay footage. Just leaks. Just rumors.

Which brings us to the real question: Is Bethesda Testing Us?

The way they’re dropping this news feels a little too calculated. There’s talk about a shadow drop, which means the game could be released immediately after the reveal stream. No long marketing campaign, no waiting months for trailers. Just “boom, it’s here.”

That’s not really how Bethesda usually operates.

Could it be that Oblivion Remastered isn’t just for fans? Maybe it’s a test — seeing how players respond to a classic RPG in today’s tech, how the new engine handles old-school designs, or even testing features for their upcoming The Elder Scrolls VI.

Think about it. By remastering Oblivion, Bethesda could gain:

• Insight into how Unreal Engine 5 handles a full-scale open world.

• Real data on what fans love or dislike about older versus newer styles.

• Hype and nostalgia while keeping details about TES6 under wraps.

And if players bite — and they probably will — Bethesda walks away with data, dollars, and goodwill.

What About Elder Scrolls VI?

It’s the game we’ve all been waiting for since Skyrim turned into a meme. Bethesda announced it back in 2018, but since then, things have been pretty quiet.

So, is this remaster a distraction, or a sneak peek?

If Oblivion Remastered shares the same engine or style as TES6, it might be our first hint of what’s coming. Or maybe it’s just a clever way to keep us hyped while Bethesda keeps the real project under wraps.

That 120GB file size isn’t just about better textures. The surprise drop isn’t just marketing; something big may be happening. Whether it’s a genuine gift for longtime fans or a strategic move to gather data before the big TES6 reveal, one thing’s clear: Bethesda definitely knows how to stir up excitement.

The official Oblivion Remastered reveal will drop on April 22, 2025, at 11am ET. We’ll be watching that reveal closely. And maybe, just maybe, there’s more to this remaster than meets the eye.