"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 momentum going, the developer began rolling out small paid DLC packages for the game. Little did they know, their first foray into this territory with the April release of the Horse Armor Pack would stir up a storm of controversy. This pack, which cost 200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 Marketplace (roughly $2.50 at the time), became infamous for its perceived uselessness, marking a significant moment in gaming history.

Fast forward to 2025, and the gaming landscape has evolved dramatically. Cosmetic upgrades like the once-controversial horse armor are now a standard part of the industry. Bethesda has cleverly revisited this piece of gaming history with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside today's announcement and immediate availability of the remaster, it was revealed that the game will be available in both a base edition and a deluxe edition. The deluxe edition, priced at an additional $10 over the base game, includes new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, horse armor—two sets, to be exact.

The response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive and humorous. The concept of paid cosmetic DLC, once a shock, is now widely accepted. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console digital add-ons in 2024. The sentiment among fans is that "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run." Many find it amusing that Bethesda is playfully referencing 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 has also quickly attracted the attention of the modding community. Just hours after its launch, a few mods appeared on the popular site Nexus Mods, primarily focusing on minor customization options. As we anticipate more mods to emerge, you can explore why some players believe this release leans more towards a remake than a remaster and the reasoning behind Bethesda's choice to label it "Remastered."

For those eager to dive into the world of Oblivion Remastered, we offer a comprehensive guide that 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.