Patch notes have been unveiled for the upcoming major update to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. This update will introduce a new difficulty setting for players to try, alongside general improvements to game performance.
As detailed in the Steam patch notes for update 1.2, a sixth difficulty level, named Journeyman, is being added to Oblivion Remastered. This new option is positioned in the middle of the game`s existing difficulty spectrum and is intended to provide a better transition for players moving from the Adept setting to the Expert setting.
The update includes more than just the new difficulty level. It will also feature separate sliders or settings for the amount of damage the player deals and the amount of damage enemies deal in combat. This allows players to further tailor their gameplay experience to their preferences.
Update 1.2 is currently available only through the Steam Beta program, which players can opt into. It will be released to all players on other platforms at a later, unspecified date. To access the Steam Beta update, follow these steps:
- Open your Steam Library and locate The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
- Right-click on the game title and select `Properties`.
- In the new properties window, choose the `Betas` tab.
- From the beta dropdown menu, select `[beta]`.
- Allow the app to download the new build and then launch the game.
The difficulty scaling in Oblivion Remastered has been a notable topic of discussion since its release. Many players found that the initial difficulties like Novice and Apprentice felt too easy, often including the default Adept level. However, the jump to Expert could make combat frustratingly difficult, with enemies becoming very tough to defeat and dealing significantly more damage. Adding a middle ground difficulty option is a welcome addition.
In addition to the new difficulty features, the update brings several performance optimizations. According to the patch notes, it will reduce the frequency of brief pauses or `hitches` occurring in the open world. Furthermore, improvements have been made to character animations, weather effects, water rendering, and the lighting and shadows within various interior locations.
Naturally, the update also addresses a multitude of bugs. This includes fixes for issues such as missing textures on Daedric statues, incorrect vampire sleeping animations, and many others. The full patch notes are listed below.
Oblivion Remastered`s first major update was released in June and primarily focused on resolving bugs and technical problems. Despite facing some technical issues and lacking official mod support (which hasn`t stopped the community from creating mods anyway), Oblivion Remastered has been one of the top-selling games of 2025 in the US so far.
Oblivion Remastered Update 1.2 Patch Notes
SETTINGS CHANGES
- Added additional difficulty settings: “Player Combat Damage” & “Enemy Combat Damage”. Players can now select from “Novice”, “Apprentice”, “Adept”, “Journeyman”, “Expert”, and “Master” options. “Journeyman” aims to bridge the gap between “Adept” and “Expert”.
UI
- Fixed map markers disappearing.
- Fixed missing punctuation in Simplified Chinese text.
- Fixed “Toggle All” button on Map screen to work as a `Hold`.
- Various fixes to localized text.
- Fixed controller issues in Spellmaking menu.
- Fixed menus being cropped incorrectly in 1280×1024 resolution.
- Fixed the incorrect player stance in the inventory menu after fast travel.
- Fixed rebinding keys for Lock Picking.
- Fixed keybinds not updating in AZERTY keyboard layout.
- Fixed a soft lock issue with the controller in the Enchanting menu.
- Fixed stats not updating when equipping enchanted items.
- Fixed a character skin glitch when closing the inventory menu.
CRASHES
- Fixed crashes that could occur while fighting Jyggalag.
- Fixed crashing when killing a paralyzed NPC with an arrow.
- Fixed crashing when paralyzing an already-paralyzed NPC.
- Fixed crashing in Spellmaking menu when rapidly removing & implementing effects.
- Fixed various GPU crashes.
- Fixed crashes that could occur during auto saves.
AUDIO
- Fixed underwater SFX persisting after leaving water.
- Fixed missing ambient SFX in Shivering Isles.
QUESTS
- Fixed NPCs floating after being knocked down during Priory of the Nine quest.
- Fixed crashing when entering Flooded Mine during Final Justice quest.
- Fixed pathing for Shaleez in Flooded Mine during Final Justice quest.
- Fixed crashing when opening Gate to The Fringe during Retaking the Fringe quest.
- Fixed mages loading without clothes in Fort Ontus during The Necromancer`s Amulet quest.
- Fixed NPC pathing issues in Gardens of Flesh and Bone during ‘Through the Fringe of Madness’ quest.
- Fixed missing VFX during the closing of the Great Gate.
- Fixed Ilav Dralgoner`s missing facial animation during ‘Saving Time Itself’ quest.
- Fixed Sir Thredet`s speech during ‘Umaril the Unfeathered’ quest.
- Fixed NPC pathing issues during ‘Baiting the Trap’ quest.
- Fixed Obelisk Crystals spawning disconnected during ‘Baiting the Trap’ quest.
- Fixed crash at end of ‘Through a Nightmare, Darkly’ quest.
- Fixed wall crumbling in Malada during ‘Nothing You Can Possess` quest.
- Fixed misaligned food at the Castle Leyawiin County Hall dinner party during ‘Sanguine’ quest.
- Fixed an issue with visibility of ghosts during ‘Ghosts of Vitharn’.
- Fixed cutscene not playing during ‘Light the Dragonfires’.
- Fixed missing textures in Cropsford Campsite after finishing ‘Goblin Trouble’.
PERFORMANCE
- Fixed frame rate drop in Deepscorn Hollow.
- Fixed frame rate drops in Black Rock Caverns.
- Fixed frame rate drop between Skingrad and Skingrad Castle.
- Fixed frame rate drop south of Bravil Castle courtyard.
- Reduced the frequency of hitches in the open world.
- General improvements to frame time in many locations.
- Optimized updating of character attachments.
- Optimized rendering of water volumes in the open world.
- Optimized light/shadow updates in several lairs.
- Optimized waterfall particle FX and rendering.
- Optimized the weather system.
- Optimized character animation system.
GAMEPLAY
- Fixed player character height scaling.
- Fixed armor items hiding Argonian and Khajiit tails.
- Fixed slow camera movement when initiating NPC dialogue.
- Fixed soft lock when a player with a high bounty goes to jail.
- Fixed Orrery animations.
- Fixed physics bug with floating necklaces.
- Fixed vampire sleeping animations.
- Fixed NPC beards not following facial animation.
- Fixed ghost NPCs being completely invisible.
- Fixed missing animation when talking to Shamada in Leyawiin.
- Fixed occasional very long load times when fast traveling.
- Fixed missing facial animation for Snak gra-Bura.
- Fixed falling unconscious in water preventing player from getting up.
- Fixed NPCs losing collision when swimming.
- Fixed NPCs stopping combat when player is blocking.
- Fixed female Dremora teeth clipping.
- Fixed soft lock after choosing player class.
- Fixed Amber weapons clipping in first person view.
- Fixed vines clipping into columns.
- Fixed helmets clipping into player character`s head.
- Fixed missing textures on Daedric statues.
- Fixed duplicated pages between Oghma Infinium and Mysterium Xarxes.
SYSTEM
- Fixed flickering shadows when using XeSS Upscaling.
- Fixed title properly restarting after purchasing the Deluxe Upgrade on PC.
- Fixed settings properly migrating between PC and XBOX.
- Fixed water disappearing after fast travel.
- Fixed cursor slowdown when enabling high frame rate V-Sync.
- Fixed shaders not preloading due to cloud save replication.
- Fixed long blackout during loading screens.
- Fixed weather VFX flashing while outside.
- Fixed motion blur artifacts while in the Oblivion Plane.
- Fixed NPCs not obeying the Wait action from the player.