"Oblivion Remastered Reintroduces Paid Horse Armor DLC"

In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glory of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. To keep the excitement alive in Cyrodiil, they began releasing small paid DLC packages. However, their first venture into this territory in April 2006, the Horse Armor DLC, sparked significant controversy. Priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 Marketplace, which translated to about $2.50 at the time, the Horse Armor Pack was seen as a groundbreaking yet contentious move because the armor offered no gameplay advantage.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades are a staple in the gaming industry. Bethesda capitalized on this trend with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside today's reveal and shadow-drop, it was announced that the game will be available in both a base and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10, deluxe edition buyers can enjoy new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, the infamous horse armor once again—now with two sets available.

The response from fans has been largely positive and humorous. With nearly two decades having passed since the original controversy, the gaming community is now accustomed to paying for cosmetic enhancements. As noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky, U.S. gamers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," Piscatella remarked, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.

Many fans appreciate Bethesda's playful nod to the past. The reintroduction of horse armor as paid DLC is seen as a light-hearted reference to what was once a major 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 the horse armor; the modding community has already jumped into action. Just hours after the game's launch, several mods appeared on Nexus Mods, offering minor customization options.

While we eagerly await more mods, you can delve into why some players believe today's release is more of a remake than a remaster and the reasoning behind Bethesda's choice of the “Remastered” label.

We've prepared a comprehensive guide to everything you'll find in Oblivion Remastered, including 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.