In 2006, Bethesda was riding a wave of success following the release of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*, one of the most ambitious RPGs of its time. To keep players engaged in the vast world of Cyrodiil, the studio began offering small, paid DLC packages—add-ons designed to enhance or expand the gameplay experience. However, what started as a routine content drop quickly turned into one of gaming’s earliest and most infamous controversies: the Horse Armor Pack.
Even if you weren’t around during the initial wave of outrage, the “horse armor scandal” has become something of a legend in gaming circles. While downloadable content wasn't unheard of at the time, charging real money for something purely cosmetic—and arguably unnecessary—was still a relatively new concept. The Horse Armor Pack, priced at just 200 Microsoft Points (roughly $2.50), allowed players to dress their steeds in fancy battle gear that offered no functional benefit whatsoever. It was an early example of how monetization could clash with player expectations, sparking backlash across forums and fan communities.
Fast forward to 2025, and the tides have changed dramatically. Cosmetic upgrades are now a standard part of game design and post-launch support. In a surprising yet cheeky move, Bethesda has resurrected the infamous horse armor with the launch of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered*. As part of the remaster’s surprise release, players can choose between a base edition and a deluxe edition. The deluxe version, available for an additional $10, includes bonus quests, exclusive weapon sets, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app—and yes, two different sets of horse armor.
For the most part, fans seem to be taking this lighthearted reboot of a controversial idea in stride. Nearly two decades after the original backlash, players have grown accustomed to spending extra on cosmetic-only items. As noted by industry analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky, U.S. consumers alone spent over $10.4 billion on digital add-ons for PC and console games in 2024. As one fan aptly put it, “Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run.”
“PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK.” — 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.” — UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025
“£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on.” — Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025
Beyond the nostalgic controversy, *Oblivion Remastered* also supports modding, with several community-created mods already appearing on Nexus Mods within hours of the game’s release. While these early additions are mostly minor customization tweaks, more robust mods are expected as the community continues to engage with the updated engine.
As we wait for deeper mod support to emerge, you can explore why some players feel today’s release leans closer to a full remake than a traditional remaster, and discover the reasoning behind Bethesda’s decision to label it as “Remastered.”
Looking for more details? We’ve compiled a complete guide to everything included in *Oblivion Remastered*, featuring an Interactive Map, detailed Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
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