Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 Proves Why Elder Scrolls 6 Needs a Multi-Platform Launch (With One Big Caveat)

Of all the games I’ve returned to over and over again, Skyrim holds the crown for overall playtime and number of platforms. I’ve explored Tamriel on PC, Xbox 360, and the Nintendo Switch. Naturally, I was eager to see a reimagined Cyrodiil when The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered released last year. I was one of the Elder Scrolls fans refreshing the PlayStation Store, waiting for that shadow drop to actually go live. Although I first experienced Oblivion Remastered on the PS5, I jumped at the opportunity to try the game on Switch 2. And it reminded me why I desperately need The Elder Scrolls 6 to be a multi-platform launch.

My most recent Skyrim playthroughs took place on the Switch, and there’s something extra magical about a portable version of Tamriel. But Oblivion Remastered is a much newer game than Skyrim, and I wasn’t entirely sure how even the revved-up Switch 2 would handle the task. After early reports suggested the port looked great and performed surprisingly well, I decided to jump in and see for myself. From character creation on through Kvatch and beyond, I was relatively impressed with how the game runs on Switch 2 compared with my prior experience on PS5. Having Cyrodiil in the palm of my hands makes me all the more eager to return to Tamriel for a brand new story with The Elder Scrolls 6. It also reminds me how much I don’t want an Xbox Exclusive release for the next Elder Scrolls.

Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 Isn’t Perfect, But Is That Really a Surprise?

Let’s get this out of the way up front: yes, Oblivion Remastered has some issues on Switch 2. But the game still has issues on pretty much every platform, even a year after its initial release. So it’s hardly a surprise that Bethesda’s Switch 2 port of the game comes with some bugs and visual snags. Even so, playing Oblivion Remastered on the Switch 2 is pretty smooth overall. The visuals look surprisingly solid on the console in both handheld and TV mode, and the frame rate actually seems a bit better than it was on PS5 the last time I played the game there. Did my game fully crash in Kvatch Castle several times now that the big bug there has been “fixed”? You bet it did. But did that stop me from enjoying another adventure in Tamriel? No, it did not.

If you’re curious whether Oblivion Remastered is playable on Switch 2, the short answer is yes. The longer answer is that, in general, Bethesda games remain pretty buggy on any platform. The Switch 2 does seem to bring some unique challenges, particularly a glowing aura lingering on characters after they cast a spell or are targeted by one. I’ve had some interesting conversations with Martin, in which he had a nice yellow angelic glow thanks to his habit of casting Restoration after every encounter. But by and large, the characters and landscape look great on Switch 2. And the game does run fairly well, with few frame rate drops and basically no stuttering. Plus, the Switch 2 has the added bonus of being portable. I am all for having the world of The Elder Scrolls at my disposal even when I’m not home with my PS5. That’s why I opted to buy Skyrim on the Switch, after all.

Playing Oblivion Remastered on the Switch 2 reminds me why I keep coming back to Tamriel time and time again. It holds a special place in my heart, and I love the chaotic randomness of the open world. As much fun as it has been revisiting older games, though, I’m very ready for The Elder Scrolls 6. And my multi-platform collection of Elder Scrolls games reminds me of a very real concern going into the next big game: Xbox exclusivity rumors.

The Elder Scrolls Has Been Multi-Platform for Too Long to Go Xbox Exclusive

With Xbox returning to console exclusives, many fans have wondered whether they’ll make Elder Scrolls 6 an Xbox exclusive. Thus far, Todd Howard has declined to rule out the possibility, though he also hasn’t confirmed any Xbox exclusive plans. In many ways, that decision would make sense for Xbox from a business standpoint. The Elder Scrolls is one of their biggest franchises, and making it exclusive to the next generation could be a tipping point to sell people on Project Helix. I’m just assuming we’re not getting Elder Scrolls 6 until the next console generation at this point, but Todd Howard, do feel free to prove me wrong at any point on that one. However, I don’t really think an exclusive Xbox launch for The Elder Scrolls 6 makes sense for the franchise, or for its fans.

At this point, The Elder Scrolls has been a multiplatform franchise since the original Oblivion hit PS3 back in 2007. Skyrim has been re-released so many times, I expect I’ll be playing it on my microwave at some point. Pivoting back to Xbox exclusivity after so many years of Tamriel on every platform would be a pretty big disservice to loyal fans. I’ll admit, I do have a personal stake in the matter. I’ve long preferred PlayStation over Xbox, and my current go-to platforms are PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Even with the disc-free shenanigans Sony is pulling, I don’t really see myself becoming an Xbox convert in the next generation. And that means there could be a future where I don’t get to play Elder Scrolls 6 at launch if it’s an exclusive. I don’t think I’m alone in that, either.

Keeping franchises like Halo, which have always been Xbox exclusives, in the Xbox ecosystem makes sense. But pulling a franchise back from fans who’ve enjoyed it on the platform of their preference for well over a decade is another move entirely. As I sat back with my Switch 2 and roamed the wilds of Cyrodiil, I couldn’t help but think what a loss it’d be if I can’t do the same for The Elder Scrolls 6 eventually.

That said, I also couldn’t help but think that Bethesda really needs to get a handle on the buggy nature of its games for this next launch. We’ve waited so long for The Elder Scrolls 6 that I’m happy to wait a bit longer if it means we won’t have major, quest-breaking bugs in the game at launch. If that means we don’t get it on handhelds like the Switch 2 right at release, I’m okay with that. But please, make The Elder Scrolls 6 available on multiple platforms so fans can enjoy Tamriel just as we have for the last many years.

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