The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered’slong-rumored shadow drop actually happened today, and it’s been quite an event for gamers regardless of if they played the original. Or if they’re playing or watching.
Not long after it launched this morning,Oblivion Remasteredjumped to near the top of Twitch with over 400,000 viewers, past ever-present games likeGrand Theft Auto V, Fortnite,andWarzone. The surprise game’s directory was full of all sorts of channels and streamers, from former FPS pro Shroud, toFortnitemegastar Rubius, and variety gamers like Lirik and MOONMOON.
TheElder Scrollsis one of a handful of series that could drop a title out of nowhere and take over viewership and community discussion with little advance notice, and I think it’s important to talk about how rare it is for an event like this is.
A well-established franchise like this, dropping a remaster of one of the most beloved games in one of gaming’s most famous series period, and doing it as a shadow drop has created a truly unique event. At almost 20 years old, it feels like there’s just as many people hyped to playOblivionor watch it for the first time as there are those who are excited to re-live a favorite.
And for those who are viewing on Twitch or YouTube or elsewhere, their shared interest further illustrates how out of the ordinary today has felt when it comes to game releases, hype, and just an awareness of excitement on such a wide scale in a community that’s oftentimes quite scattered.
The combination of all of these different facets of today’s event makes it really stand out, because this sort of thing just doesn’t happen very often.
