For over a decade, the TESRenewal Project has been working on one of the most ambitious undertakings in the history of modding: Skyblivion. The project aims to bring the entirety of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion into the more modern Skyrim engine, effectively giving the 2006 classic a ground-up remake.
While the team had long targeted a 2025 release window, Project Lead Rebelzize officially confirmed in December 2025 that the project has been pushed to 2026.
The Final Stretch: Why the Delay?
Despite the delay, the development team has emphasized that the project is in its “best state ever.” The decision to move the release date was made to ensure the mod meets the high standards of the community and to avoid the pitfalls of a rushed launch.
Key hurdles remaining include:
- The Imperial City: As the crown jewel of Cyrodiil, the Imperial City requires significant 3D asset work and interior design that is currently being finalized.
- Navmeshing and QA: Ensuring that NPCs can navigate the massive world without getting stuck requires meticulous work, which is expected to wrap up by Q1 2026.
- Quest Implementation: While many questlines are finished, the remaining ones are being polished and integrated into the final world-space.
What’s Already Finished?
To soften the blow of the delay, the team shared several major milestones that prove the end is in sight:
- World Map: The exterior world of Cyrodiil is 100% complete. An interactive satellite map is now available on their official website for fans to explore.
- Dungeons: All quest-related dungeons have been remade with unique layouts, moving away from the “copy-paste” feel of the original game.
- Cities: With the exception of the Imperial City, all major hubs—including Kvatch, Bruma, and Cheydinhal—are finished.
Skyblivion vs. Oblivion Remastered
Earlier in 2025, Bethesda surprised the community by releasing an official Oblivion Remastered. While that version offered a beautiful Unreal Engine 5 visual overhaul, the Skyblivion team argues their project remains essential.
Unlike the official remaster, which kept the original gameplay mechanics, Skyblivion introduces Skyrim-style combat, revamped skill systems, and expanded lore-friendly content that wasn’t present in the original 2006 release.
“As a project by fans, for fans, we need a little more time to ensure Skyblivion lives up to the standards you all deserve.” — Rebelzize, Project Lead
The Path Forward
The team has also outlined a “Living Project” roadmap. This means that even after the 2026 launch, they plan to add features that had to be cut for the initial release, such as:
- Spellcrafting: A fan-favorite mechanic from the original Oblivion.
- DLC Content: Future updates for The Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine.
- New Mechanics: Dynamic dungeons and grave-robbing.
While the wait for Cyrodiil continues, the transparency of the TESRenewal team suggests that when 2026 finally arrives, it will be well worth the decade-long journey.
