In 2006, Bethesda was basking in the glow of their hit game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the excitement alive in Cyrodiil, they began releasing small paid DLC packages. However, they stirred up a storm when they released their first DLC in April: horse armor. Even if you weren't gaming back then, the term "horse armor controversy" might ring a bell. Prior to this, DLC was not unheard of, but the Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points (around $2.50), caused an uproar due to its perceived lack of utility.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like this are no longer a novelty. This evolution has allowed Bethesda to cheekily reintroduce horse armor in their latest release, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside the base edition, a deluxe edition is available for an additional $10, offering new quests for unique armors, extra weapon options, a digital artbook, soundtrack app, and yes, two sets of horse armor.

The gaming community has largely embraced this move with a sense of humor, recognizing how far we've come since the days when cosmetic DLC was shocking. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. video game consumers spent over $10.4 billion on digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he remarked, highlighting the shift in consumer acceptance.

Many fans appreciate Bethesda's playful nod to what was once a significant controversy:

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

Oblivion Remastered isn't just about horse armor; the modding community has already jumped into action. Just hours after the game's launch, a selection of mods surfaced on popular site Nexus Mods, primarily focusing on small customization enhancements.

While we await more mods, dive into our detailed coverage on why some players consider this release more of a remake than a remaster and why Bethesda chose the "Remastered" label.

Explore our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, which includes an interactive map, complete walkthroughs for the main questline and guild quests, tips on building the perfect character, and things to do first, among other resources.