The patch notes for the upcoming major update to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered have been released. The update introduces a new difficulty level and includes various performance enhancements.
According to the Steam patch notes for version 1.2, a sixth difficulty setting, `Journeyman`, is being added to Oblivion Remastered. Positioned between the `Adept` and `Expert` levels, this new option is intended to provide a smoother transition for players.
Difficulty isn`t the only area being addressed. The update will also feature separate settings for player combat damage and enemy combat damage, giving players more granular control over their experience.
Update 1.2 is presently accessible only through the Steam Beta program (players can opt-in). It will be rolled out to all users later, with no specific date announced yet for other platforms. To access the Steam Beta update, follow these instructions:
How to Access the Steam Beta:
- Open your Steam Library and find The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
- Right-click the game title and select `Properties`.
- In the properties window, go to the `Betas` tab.
- Select `[beta]` from the beta dropdown menu.
- Wait for the game to download the new build and then launch it.
The level-scaling and difficulty system in Oblivion Remastered have been subjects of considerable discussion since launch. Many players found early difficulties like Novice and Apprentice, and often the default Adept, to be too easy. Conversely, stepping up to Expert could drastically increase combat difficulty, making enemies highly resilient and dangerous. The introduction of a middle difficulty tier is therefore a welcome change.
In addition to the new difficulty settings, the update also brings performance optimizations. The patch notes mention a reduction in the `frequency of hitches in the open world` and enhancements to character animations, weather effects, water rendering, lighting, and shadows in various interiors, among other improvements.
Naturally, a wide range of bug fixes are included too, addressing issues such as missing textures on Daedric statues and incorrect vampire sleeping animations. The full patch notes are provided below.
The first significant update for Oblivion Remastered was released in June, primarily addressing bugs and technical problems. Despite some initial technical hiccups and the lack of official mod support (though players have already created unofficial mods), Oblivion Remastered has proven to be a strong seller, ranking among the best-selling games of 2025 in the US to date.
Oblivion Remastered Update 1.2: Full Patch Notes
Settings Changes
- Added additional difficulty settings for fine-tuning “Player Combat Damage” & “Enemy Combat Damage”. Options now include “Novice”, “Apprentice”, “Adept”, “Journeyman”, “Expert”, and “Master”. The “Journeyman” setting 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 Spell making menu
- Fixed menus being cropped incorrectly in 1280×1024
- Fixed the incorrect player stance in the inventory menu after fast travel
- Fixed rebinding keys for Lock Picking
- Fixed keybinds not updating in AZERTY
- Fixed soft lock with controller in 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 exiting 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.
- Optimize updating of character attachments.
- Optimize rendering of water volumes in the open world.
- Optimize light/shadow updates in several lairs.
- Optimize waterfall particle FX and rendering.
- Optimize the weather system.
- Optimize 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