"Oblivion Remastered Reintroduces Paid Horse Armor DLC"

In 2006, Bethesda was riding the wave of success from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep the momentum going and fans engaged in the world of Cyrodiil, the developer began releasing small, paid DLC packages. Little did they know, their first DLC release in April, the Horse Armor Pack, would stir up a major controversy. Priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 Marketplace, which equated to roughly $2.50 at the time, the pack offered armor for horses that was largely seen as superfluous.

Even if you weren't into gaming back then, the term "horse armor controversy" might still ring a bell. While downloadable content (DLC) was not a new concept, the introduction of the Horse Armor Pack in Oblivion became a flashpoint, highlighting the debate over the value and ethics of charging for cosmetic items.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like these are now the norm. Bethesda has cleverly revisited this concept with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. As part of the reveal and simultaneous launch of the remaster, it was announced that players can choose between a base edition and a deluxe edition. For an additional $10 over the base game price, the deluxe edition offers new quests for unique armors, additional weapon choices, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and yes, horse armor once again—two sets, to be exact.

Today, fans are reacting with good humor to this callback. The initial shock of cosmetic DLC has faded, and players have grown accustomed to paying for such enhancements. As noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella on BlueSky, U.S. consumers spent over $10.4 billion on PC and console video game digital add-ons in 2024. "Horse Armor walked so Battle Passes could run," he remarked, reflecting on the evolution of gaming monetization.

Many in the community are amused by Bethesda's willingness to playfully nod to the infamous scandal.

PAID HORSE ARMOR DLC. OBLIVION IS TRULY BACK. pic.twitter.com/1DJFIPzHB0

— Many A True Nerd (@ManyATrueNerd) April 22, 2025

Honestly I have to respect it. New players won't know this, but releasing the horse armor as paid DLC again is a subtle reference to when they singlehandedly ruined the industry by selling it the first time around. I kneel, Todd. https://t.co/BGwBwL3VYX

— UGS | Ajay (@AJ34_SSB) April 22, 2025

£10 for Horse Armor in #OblivionRemastered ??? There's no way that's gonna catch on pic.twitter.com/E1jqpPZFYr

— Olive_Meister (@Olive_Meisterr) April 22, 2025

Oblivion Remastered isn't just about revisiting old controversies; it's also embracing the modding community. Just hours after the remaster's launch, several community mods appeared on the popular site Nexus Mods, offering minor customization options.

As we anticipate more mods to become available, delve into why some players consider today's release more of a remake than a remaster and explore Bethesda's decision to label it as "Remastered."

For a deep dive into what Oblivion Remastered has to offer, check out our comprehensive guide. It includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.

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