Bethesda Wants More Shadowdrops After “Owning the Day” with Oblivion Remastered
Bethesda Game Studios is increasingly motivated to repeat the surprise success of its Oblivion Remastered shadowdrop, according to comments from Director of External Projects Tom Mustaine. Speaking with GamesRadar during the Golden Joystick Awards, Mustaine explained that both Hi Fi Rush and Oblivion Remastered demonstrated the value of surprise releases in an industry where attention spans are shorter than ever.
The remastered version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion launched on April 22, 2025 without any prior marketing, validating Todd Howard’s long standing interest in dramatic, instant releases. Virtuos handled the Unreal Engine 5 port with Mustaine overseeing the project for Bethesda.
“We had a real successful shadowdrop with Hi Fi Rush through Xbox and Bethesda,” Mustaine said. “Todd Howard has wanted to shadowdrop things for a long time because it is great to say, ‘Here is the thing, get it today.’ We all have short attention spans now. It is an interesting strategy. I hope it is not the last.”
Mustaine emphasized how satisfying it was for Bethesda to “own the internet for that day” and deliver a game directly into the hands of players the moment it was announced. The surprise release drove massive online engagement and positioned the remaster as an event rather than a routine update.
Todd Howard has made similar comments, even joking that he wishes The Elder Scrolls VI could simply appear one day without years of anticipation and marketing pressure. However, given the scale and commercial importance of Elder Scrolls VI, a shadowdrop is extremely unlikely. Microsoft will almost certainly rely on a structured marketing roadmap for one of the most anticipated titles in modern gaming.
Still, there are other opportunities. Industry rumors suggest that Fallout 3 Remastered and Fallout: New Vegas Remastered are in active development. Either of those could follow the Oblivion blueprint, offering Bethesda another chance to execute a surprise launch without jeopardizing a flagship release.
With the success of Hi Fi Rush, increasing competition for player attention, and the fan enthusiasm generated by Oblivion Remastered’s sudden arrival, it is clear that Bethesda sees strategic value in selective shadowdrops. While the biggest blockbusters likely will not follow this path, mid scale remasters and experimental projects remain ideal candidates.
What Bethesda game would you like to see shadowdropped next? Share your wish list below.
