The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimcontinues to be a regular topic of discussion among gamers despite the game’s original release date 10 years ago. This is due in part toSkyrim’s multiple re-releaseson different platforms and a healthy modding community that continues to add new material to the acclaimed RPG. One team of modders has been working on a total conversion mod forSkyrimthat turns the game intoThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion,calledSkyblivion.The TES Renewal Project team recently released a video diary update that shows off more of the progress theSkyblivionmod has made at the close of 2020.
TheSkyblivionmodhas been in development for at least 7 years now, and the people behind its creation are still hard at work.Skyblivionis a completely fan-made mod forSkyrim,so it doesn’t benefit from the same progress a large team of paid employees might be able to make. Despite this,Skyblivionlooks good and becomes more playable each and every day, and the latest update showcases quest-building, 3D models, and more.
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In theSkyblivionDevelopment Diary Part 2 update, the team highlights some of the biggest advances made in creating the total conversion mod. As of the end of 2020, the team was on schedule for recreating 7 out of the 10 unique map sections inSkyblivionfor a map that is a third larger thanSkyrim.Each of the originalOblivionlocations like the Jerall Mountains and the Colovian Highlands represent unique biomes to remaster, along with themany hidden locations inOblivionwithin these biomes.
The progress on 3D modeling in the game has come a long way as well, with 8032 individual objects to render. The team’s latest focus has been on redesigning assets to mirror the different classes of people in the world, whether lower, middle, or upper class. Luckily, the team behindSkyblivionhave had some help fromanotherSkyrimmodding group, Beyond Skyrim, who have lent them multiple architecture assets.
But maybe the biggest reveal of the video isSkyblivion’s semi-functioning quest system. While most quests inSkyblivionstill suffer from many issues that would prevent a player from completing them, the work is being done to put the 219 quests inOblivioninto the mod. A lengthy section of the Development Diary Part 2 is devoted to gameplay of the quest Revenge Served Cold, and while there are a few hiccups along the way, the quest is able to be completed.
TheSkyblivionmod will support theSkyrim Legacy EditionandSkyrim Special Editionand will be completely modular, which means gamers can download parts of the mod they want to install and leave others out. Unfortunately, there is still no announced time whenSkyblivionmight come out, nor is there any updates on theTES Renewal Project team’s other mod project,Skywind. SomeElder Scrollsfans speculate that these mods might never be released, but at least for now a video of definite progress is a step in the right direction.
