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 game fresh and fans engaged, the studio began rolling out small paid DLC packs. However, the release of the first DLC in April, the Horse Armor Pack, unexpectedly plunged Bethesda into a major controversy. Priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 Marketplace—roughly $2.50 at the time—the pack was criticized for offering little more than cosmetic enhancements.

Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape of gaming has shifted significantly. Cosmetic upgrades are now a norm, enabling Bethesda to cheekily reintroduce horse armor with the launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Announced and released simultaneously today, the remaster comes in two editions: a base version and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10 over the base price, the deluxe edition includes new quests for unique armors, extra weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, of course, not one but two sets of horse armor.

Fans have largely embraced this move with humor, recognizing it as a nod to the infamous scandal of yesteryear. The gaming community has grown accustomed to spending on cosmetic DLC, with U.S. consumers shelling out over $10.4 billion on digital add-ons for PC and console games in 2024 alone, as noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he quipped, reflecting on the evolution of in-game purchases.

Social media reactions have been light-hearted, with many appreciating Bethesda's playful reference to a past controversy:

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

Alongside the horse armor, Oblivion Remastered has already attracted modders, with a handful of community mods appearing on Nexus Mods just hours after launch, focusing mainly on minor customization options.

While waiting for more mods to emerge, players can delve into discussions on whether today's release is more of a remake than a remaster, and why Bethesda chose the "Remastered" label. For a detailed look at what Oblivion Remastered offers, our comprehensive guide covers everything from an expansive Interactive Map to complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, and Things to Do First, among much more.

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