Oblivion Remastered Faces Modding Drama: Unofficial Patch Sparks Controversy
The release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has ignited a passionate response from the modding community, but not all of it is positive. A new unofficial patch, aiming to fix bugs and enhance the game, has stirred up controversy due to the involvement of a "notoriously controversial" developer.
The Unofficial Patch Project Team recently launched the first Unofficial Patch for Oblivion Remastered. This project seeks to address numerous issues plaguing the game. According to DSOGaming. The first version of the patch merges relevant fixes from previous UOP, USIP, and UODP which covers all of the base game from the remaster.
However, the release of the Unofficial Oblivion Remastered Patch (UORP) by Arthmoor, just one week after the game's launch, has ignited a firestorm within the modding community, reported PC Gamer. A popular post on the Oblivion Modding subreddit warned users against using Arthmoor's patch, calling the developer "notoriously controversial" and urging the community to ignore the mod.
The animosity stems from past incidents, including 'Gategate,' where Arthmoor's Open Cities mod for Skyrim added 'lore-friendly' Oblivion gates, sparking conflict with other modders. Concerns also arose when Arthmoor's Unofficial Skyrim Patch, which included subjective changes, became a mandatory prerequisite for many other mods.
Some players accuse Arthmoor of hastily porting the original patch to "stake a monopoly on unofficial patches again," fearing a repeat of the Skyrim situation. Reports of new issues introduced by the patch, such as crashes and bizarre graphical glitches, have further fueled the controversy. However, Arthmoor denies these claims, stating that the UORP removes fixes already implemented by Bethesda and Virtuos in the remaster. "Claims that the UORP is a direct unmodified port of the original [Unofficial Oblivion Patch] are incorrect. Over the last week since the release of the remaster, I've been combing over the records in detail." Arthmoor said.
While Arthmoor claims his goal is to improve the game experience for everyone, some community members fear his patch will become a de facto standard, forcing his preferences onto all Oblivion Remastered players.
Addressing a large number of bugs is what the team over at Wccftech have said the new unofficial patch is aiming to do, including bugs relating to scripts, quests, npcs, objects, dialogue and much more which is available to download from Nexus Mods.
Oblivion Remastered is still a work in progress, with Bethesda actively working on patches. Given the ongoing development and the controversy surrounding the UORP, the modding community seems divided with recommendations to wait rather than apply hasty fixes. Should players embrace the unofficial patch and risk potential issues, or trust in the official updates and community-driven solutions? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
