Bethesda shows Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2, but graphics quality disappoints

At the Nintendo Partner Direct, Bethesda unveiled a portable version of Oblivion Remastered for Switch 2. Todd Howard personally demonstrated the Unreal Engine 5 game running on Nintendo's new console, but the visual quality received mixed reactions.

Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 noticeably falls short of versions on other platforms. Many noted the graphics resemble The Outer Worlds port on the original Switch – blurry and simplified visuals. Still, the remaster surpasses the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion from 2006, especially the infamously poor PS3 port.

The studio clearly made significant compromises to run the game on Nintendo's less powerful hardware. Developers recommend playing in handheld mode – when displayed on TV, the graphical shortcomings become more apparent.

The Oblivion remaster unexpectedly launched in April last year without prior announcement, becoming one of 2025's biggest surprises. However, even on PC, the game still suffers from performance issues and bugs. Hopefully the Switch 2 version will prove more stable.

Bethesda hasn't announced an exact release date, stating only that Oblivion Remastered will arrive on Switch 2 sometime this year.