From Foes to Friends: Bethesda's Surprising Embrace of the Skyblivion Mod Team
Bethesda endorses Skyblivion fan project heavily, gifting all developers with Oblivion Remastered keys: Bethesda deems their work 'remarkably exceptional'
Let's cut the crap, before the release of Oblivion Remastered, the idea of it co-existing peacefully with Skyblivion – the fan mod that recreates Oblivion within Skyrim Special Edition – seemed like a pipe dream. I mean, it's like two teams competing for the same territory, right? One can't win without the other losing. But guess who's eating humble pie now?
Turns out, the Skyblivion team shot Bethesda an "all love and no hate" message just before the remaster dropped, and what do you know? Bethesda replied with "hey, here are all the keys to Oblivion Remastered for free." In a world where corporations sue fans for even looking sideways at their IP, this move from Bethesda was a breath of fresh air.
And it didn't stop there. Dan Lee, Art and Development Lead at Bethesda, gave a shout-out to the Skyblivion team in a recent developer spotlight. "Even though I worked on Oblivion Remastered," said Lee, "I'm still excited for Skyblivion." Lee even showed off some Skyblivion footage and gushed about its potential.
Lee isn't the only one cheering for Skyblivion. In a post on Bluesky, the team thanked Lee for his kind words. It's clear that this positive vibe is contagious.
Skyblivion isn't the only mod Lee had nice things to say about. He also gave a nod to the Sirenroot quest mod, East Empire Expansion, Bards College Expansion, Coven of Crones, and more.
When it comes to Skyblivion, Lee has every reason to be pumped. Despite Oblivion Remastered, Skyblivion remains on track for a 2025 release after a long development process. The remaster hasn't slowed them down a bit.
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Joshua WolensWith one of his first memories being of playing Quake 2 when he was way too young, Joshua Wolens has been a gamer for life. His work has been featured in Vice, Fanbyte, and the Financial Times. He'll play nearly anything, and has written about everything from visual novels to Assassin's Creed. His deepest loves are for CRPGs, immersive sims, and any game that has an ambition larger than its budget. He thinks you all are way too harsh on Deus Ex: Invisible War.
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Bethesda's Supportive Stance:Bethesda's unexpected support for the Skyblivion mod team has several benefits for the mod and its potential release. Here are some key points:
- Legal Assurance: Bethesda's decision to not take legal action against the Skyblivion project provides the mod team with assurance and helps minimize potential legal risks[1][2][4].
- Goodwill Gesture: The gifting of Oblivion Remastered keys to the entire mod team acts as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation, fostering a more positive relationship between Bethesda and mod teams[3][5].
- Motivation and Morale: The support from Bethesda likely boosts the morale and motivation of the mod team, potentially leading to more efficient and enthusiastic development[5].
The Impact on Release:1. Coexistence: The positive relationship between Bethesda and the Skyblivion team indicates that there is room for both the official Oblivion Remastered and the Skyblivion mod[2][4].
- Timed Release: The mod team has expressed plans to release Skyblivion later in the year, demonstrating that Bethesda's support has not deterred them from their goals[2].
- Community Engagement: The positive interaction with Bethesda may increase visibility and interest in Skyblivion, potentially leading to more community engagement and support as it nears release[5].
In summary, Bethesda's supportive stance has created a conducive environment for the development and eventual release of Skyblivion, and highlights a positive relationship between the developer and mod teams.
- Joshua Wolens, a lifelong gamer, lauded Bethesda's recent move in supporting the Skyblivion mod team, a group recreating Oblivion within Skyrim Special Edition.
- This decision offers legal assurance to the mod team, reducing potential legal risks, and acts as a gesture of goodwill, fostering a more positive relationship between Bethesda and mod teams.
- The gifting of Oblivion Remastered keys to the Skyblivion team by Bethesda has energized the mod team, boosting morale and motivation for the project.
- The unexpected support from Bethesda allows Skyblivion to coexist with the official Oblivion Remastered, indicating that there is room for both in the gaming community.
- The timed release of Skyblivion for later in the year, despite the release of Oblivion Remastered, demonstrates the mod team's dedication and encourages community engagement, as they near the release of their project.
- Bethesda's supportive stance not only sets a precedent for the gaming industry but also highlights the profound impact that open-mindedness and honest engagement can have, leaving a profoundly positive ripple effect in the gaming community, as technology continues to advance and fan creations become increasingly ambitious.
