Bethesda and Virtuos’ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has finally come to Nintendo Switch 2, bringing yet another Bethesda RPG to the system with an impact. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered quickly rose up the Nintendo eShop charts in the days since its launch, and there should be no surprise about it. To get straight down to business, this port is actually amazing considering that how taxing the game was on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S back when it came out. It was clear that more optimizations needed to be made to the remaster back at its launch, but the Nintendo Switch 2 version goes to show that such optimizations really can go a long way.
For some context, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered utilizes Unreal Engine 5.1 on top of Bethesda’s infamous Creation Engine from the original Oblivion, so the remaster was bound to have some of the technical frailties players remember from back in the day. However, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered makes some important changes that set it apart, and there have been fixes made to mitigate some of the issues that plagued players in the past. In addition, not only does Oblivion Remastered use ray tracing and DLSS, but the graphical overhaul makes the game feel vibrant and fresh. That being said, I won’t be retread too much more from our original Oblivion Remastered review, as there’s so much to talk about with this Nintendo Switch 2 version.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered for Switch 2 isn’t Perfect, But it’s Extremely Impressive
Oblivion Remastered runs really well on Nintendo Switch 2, and at first glance, it’s not far off the performance of the PlayStation 5 version, visually speaking. The game uses NVIDIA DLSS to upscale and reconstruct a lower resolution up to 1080p in docked and 900p in handheld mode. DLSS really does wonders for this game, and you can expect the game to run at 30 FPS most of the time. There are some frame rate hitches and longer loading times in certain areas of the game, but this was to be expected since the original release also had these issues.
Frame rate is really steady in dungeons and cave areas, while exploring Cyrodiil in its vastness can be steady to slightly hitchy, depending on the area. However, the performance is really respectable and doesn’t impact the combat. Going from the PlayStation 5 version to Nintendo Switch 2 felt seamless, and the visual drawbacks aren’t big enough to make me want to go back to the PS5 version, either. Character models also look really good, and the usual shimmering/pixelated hair effect that DLSS brings is not too strong compared to other Nintendo Switch 2 ports. I was surprised to see the game support screen-space reflections as an optional, toggleable setting.
Compared to the PC and PS5 versions, the draw distance also takes a notable hit in the Nintendo Switch 2 version, and this can be seen directly in towns like Chorrol and Anvil. You’ll see NPCs rendered in a lower resolution and quality at a distance, but as they come closer, they’re full rendered with more detail. It’s not a big issue in gameplay at all, however. It’s more of a quirk that comes with the compromise of running such a vast and demanding game on a portable system, and it isn’t an issue that is glaring and in the way.
Similarly to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition, the Switch 2 version of Oblivion Remastered also supports motion controls, which lets you toggle which hand will serve as your dominant hand in gameplay as well. In addition, you have access to mouse controls for a more PC-like experience. Mouse sensitivity, left mouse button, and insert mouse button settings can also be toggled and adjusted. I personally prefer playing Elder Scrolls games with controller, but I definitely appreciate the full use of Switch 2’s features in this port.
Bethesda is Cooking with These Switch 2 Ports
Without a doubt, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is an impressive port on Nintendo Switch 2, despite some of its drawbacks. There’s way more good than bad from a technical standpoint, and I think the overall graphical quality makes the Switch 2 version a compelling option. I don’t seem myself going back to the PS5 version after making the leap here, and if Bethesda can continue to pull this off with its titles, the Switch 2 will be the place to play your favorite western RPGs on the go.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 is a clear recommendation from me, and I hope Bethesda brings even more optimizations to the game. The real question after this release is, what’s next? A Fallout 3 or The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind remaster? The Elder Scrolls VI? Whatever it is, Bethesda fans are eagerly clamoring for more.
Disclaimer: Bethesda provided a Nintendo Switch 2 copy of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered for review purposes.
