Oblivion Remaster Revives Paid Horse Armor DLC

Back in 2006, Bethesda basked in the glow of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's success. Hoping to keep players engaged in Cyrodiil, the studio began rolling out small paid DLC expansions. Nobody could've predicted the firestorm their April release would ignite – the now-infamous horse armor pack.

Even casual gamers recognize the legendary horse armor debate. While downloadable content existed beforehand, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack (priced at 200 Microsoft Points, roughly $2.50) sparked outrage for offering purely cosmetic upgrades with no gameplay benefits.

Fast forward to 2025, where cosmetic DLC has become industry standard – giving Bethesda the perfect opportunity for some playful self-awareness with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Today's surprise announcement revealed both standard and deluxe editions, with the premium version (a $10 upgrade) including exclusive quests, weapons, digital artbooks... and yes, horse armor. Double the trouble, actually – two full sets this time.

The gaming community's reaction? Surprisingly positive. Nearly twenty years removed from the original controversy, players have grown accustomed to paying for cosmetic upgrades. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, digital add-ons generated over $10.4 billion in U.S. console/PC sales last year alone. "Horse Armor paved the way for Battle Passes," he quipped.

Most fans seem amused by Bethesda's willingness to poke fun at their own history. The studio's cheeky callback has sparked waves of nostalgic reactions across social media:

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

The remaster isn't just about nostalgic cash grabs – modding support has already taken off. Within hours of launch, Nexus Mods hosted several community creations, though current offerings remain minor cosmetic tweaks.

While awaiting more substantial mods, curious players can explore why many consider this release closer to a full remake and Bethesda's reasoning behind the "Remastered" branding.

Our team has compiled exhaustive guides covering every aspect of Oblivion Remastered, including detailed Interactive Maps, complete Main Quest and Guild Walkthroughs, Character Optimization Strategies, Essential Early-Game Activities, and much more.