Oblivion Remastered: Performance Gets a Big Lift in Latest Update 1.2

07/09/2025 RPG

Hey everyone! I've got some exciting news for those of you diving back into Oblivion Remastered. Bethesda just dropped update 1.2 into Steam Beta, and it's all about smoothing things out and giving you more control over the game's difficulty. So, if you've been experiencing some rough patches, this might be the update you've been waiting for.

Difficulty Settings Overhaul

One of the biggest changes is how difficulty is handled. Instead of that vague slider, we now have proper difficulty levels: Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Journeyman, Expert, and Master. Bethesda mentioned they're hoping the Journeyman setting will be a good middle ground for players who found Adept too easy but Expert too challenging. I think this is a great move because it gives players a clearer idea of what they're getting into. I always felt like the slider wasn't very descriptive, so this should be a lot more user-friendly.

Performance Improvements

But the real star of the show is the performance boost! The team has been working hard to squash those pesky frame rate drops in areas like Deepscorn Hollow and Black Rock Caverns. There are also fixes for those annoying hitches that could occur while exploring the open world. It sounds like they've really gone under the hood and optimized various systems, from character attachments to water rendering and even the weather. Optimization is key, and I am glad they took that seriously. Let's hope it translates to a smoother experience for everyone.

Here's a quick rundown of the performance fixes:

• 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.
• Optimise updating of character attachments.
• Optimise rendering of water volumes in the open world.
• Optimise light/shadow updates in several lairs.
• Optimise waterfall particle FX and rendering.
• Optimise the weather system.
• Optimise character animation system.

So, the update is currently available in Steam Beta. Once it's been thoroughly tested, it'll roll out to PC and other platforms. This update sounds promising, and it could make a big difference in how enjoyable the game is, especially if you were struggling with performance issues before.

While you're waiting for the full release, don't forget to check out the amazing modding community. They're doing some incredible things with the game, like creating Fallout 4-style settlement building systems. It's awesome to see so much passion and creativity being poured into Oblivion Remastered!