Oblivion Remastered Takes Inspiration from Ninja Gaiden 2 Black

The whispers around the gaming world have finally come to a head: Bethesda took the lid off one of gaming’s worst-kept secrets this week by unveiling The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. What’s even more exciting? They stealthily dropped it on the same day. The buzz began on April 21 when Bethesda teased fans with a cryptic social media image, pushing them to tune in for a big reveal the next day. To no one’s shock, the broadcast turned into a full-blown announcement for Oblivion Remastered. Bethesda then took viewers through a 20-minute exploration of the enhanced game and confirmed its imminent release on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and PC—all happening later that same day.

For the gaming community that’s been yearning for a renewed version of the iconic 2006 RPG, the release of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is a dream come true. Fans have long urged Bethesda to bring TES 4: Oblivion to modern consoles, especially since the original has only been accessible on PC and Xbox through backward compatibility, with no native availability for the latest PlayStation systems. Given that the original’s graphics and mechanics have seen better days, Bethesda’s move to announce and simultaneously release this remaster wasn’t just bold—it was highly overdue. Yet, it isn’t the only game this year to arrive on the scene in such a fashion, as any Ninja Gaiden enthusiast would recall.

In January, we witnessed Koei Tecmo Games and Team Ninja roll out Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an enhanced version of the punishing 2008 action thriller from the Xbox 360 era. Initially, there might not appear to be much in common between Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, apart from their release year. Yet, their launch strategies reveal striking parallels.

During 2025’s Xbox Developer Direct, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black made its debut with minimal fanfare and marketing hype, mirroring Oblivion Remastered’s sudden arrival. On January 23, Microsoft hosted its third Xbox Developer Direct and gave avid gamers a preview of four upcoming titles destined for Xbox and Game Pass. Maintaining an air of suspense, one game’s identity remained under wraps—until it was unveiled as Ninja Gaiden 4. Adding to the surprise, an entirely new title, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, was also procured.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was instantly available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC, the same day the Direct ended. Players quickly realized this was an upgraded version of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2—not the original Xbox 360’s Ninja Gaiden 2—flaunting enhanced visuals and gameplay tweaks courtesy of Unreal Engine 5. Despite labeling it a remaster, many saw Ninja Gaiden 2 Black as far closer to a remake—given its comprehensive rebuild on a new engine and the striking visual overhaul compared to its predecessor.

Similarly, some fans argue that The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is essentially a remake despite its ‘remaster’ tag. Its visuals and gameplay have been significantly refined from the 2006 classic. But the parallels with Ninja Gaiden 2 Black go even further. Both titles were developed using Unreal Engine 5, with their sudden Game Pass launches hinting at a possible trend in game release strategies. Even if they cater to distinctly different audiences, the surprise launches of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Oblivion Remastered on Microsoft’s subscription platform suggest a pattern—one that could see more titles take a similar path moving forward.