In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glow of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. To keep the excitement alive in Cyrodiil, the developer began rolling out small paid DLC packages. However, they inadvertently stirred up a storm with their first release in April: horse armor. Even if you weren't a gamer back then, you might have heard of the horse armor controversy. While DLC was not new, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the 360 Marketplace (about $2.50 at the time), sparked outrage due to its perceived lack of utility.
Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like horse armor are now the norm. This shift has allowed Bethesda to playfully reintroduce the concept with the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside the base edition, a deluxe edition is available for an additional $10, offering new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, horse armor—two sets, to be exact.
The fanbase has largely embraced this move with humor and acceptance. Nearly two decades have passed since cosmetic DLC was a novel and controversial concept, and today's gamers are accustomed to spending on such enhancements. As noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.
Many find Bethesda's nod to the past amusing, appreciating the company's willingness to poke fun at what was once a significant scandal.
PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0
— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025
Honestly I have to respect it. New players won't know this, but releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a subtle reference to when they singlehandedly ruined the industry by selling it the first time around. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX
— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025
£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr
— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025
Oblivion Remastered isn't just about horse armor; it's also mod-friendly. Just hours after its launch, a few community mods surfaced on the popular site Nexus Mods, primarily offering minor customization options.
As we await more mods, delve into why some players believe today's release leans more towards a remake than a remaster and explore Bethesda's reasoning behind the "Remastered" label.
For a deep dive into Oblivion Remastered, check out our comprehensive guide, which includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
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