The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 with surprisingly solid performance, but its success has created a new problem for Bethesda: players on other consoles want the same treatment.
Bethesda released the Unreal Engine 5 remaster for Switch 2 on August 11. The updated version of the 2006 open-world RPG was already a major commercial success on PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC, becoming one of the best-selling games of the previous year.
A smoother Switch 2 version highlights old problems
The remaster’s launch on other platforms was far from smooth. Players reported bugs, crashes and performance trouble, while the Xbox Series S version was criticised for looking particularly blurry. Two patches followed, but the game remained troubled a year later, with no new update released since July 2025. The ongoing problems were leaving the RPG in a bad state as reported by Digital Foundry.
That history made the Switch 2 launch awkward. The new port runs on less powerful hardware than the other current-generation consoles, yet its performance appeared more stable. Some players were pleased; others were angry that Bethesda seemed to have found useful solutions for Switch 2 while existing versions were still waiting for substantial improvements.
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What makes the Switch 2 port different?
The Switch 2 edition is not flawless. It still has bugs and noticeable frame-pacing problems. However, adjustments to draw distances and detail appear to make the experience mostly stable. The console’s Nvidia hardware also allows the game to use DLSS upscaling, helping it look sharper than the Series S version.
DLSS cannot simply be added to the PlayStation and Xbox editions because those consoles use AMD hardware. Even so, players are asking Bethesda to bring the Switch 2 port’s other optimisations to every platform through a long-awaited third patch. And it sounds like that’s going to happen.
Bethesda confirms another patch is being considered
Bethesda acknowledged the demand on August 12, writing that it had heard requests for another update to Oblivion Remastered. The company also said the Switch 2 version includes several optimisations that it is investigating for other platforms, with more information to come. Bethesda posted Bethesda via Twitter on August 12.
“The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game has a number of optimizations that we are looking into bringing to other platforms, and we will share more when we are able.”
That response has given players some reason to expect a third patch, although Bethesda has not provided a release date or detailed list of planned changes. The update would ideally address the performance, bugs and stability problems that have persisted on the older versions.
Physical copies are also difficult to find
Performance is not the only complaint surrounding the Switch 2 release. Many players have praised the physical edition because its game card contains the complete game. However, demand appears to have exceeded Bethesda’s expectations, with reports of retailers selling out.
Amazon and Walmart were also listed as sold out when the reports emerged. Bethesda The company promised on Twitter that additional copies would reach retailers later in the month.
Whether players are revisiting Tamriel on a handheld console or building a dedicated home setup, reliable hardware remains central to the experience. RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide can help Australians compare options, while the arcade machines collection covers larger cabinet setups. For compact rooms, bartop arcades offer a smaller alternative.
A patch for all platforms would be a welcome next step, particularly if Bethesda can transfer the Switch 2 version’s broader optimisations without compromising image quality or stability elsewhere.
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