The surprise release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on April 22nd sent shockwaves across the internet, but for independent developers who had planned their own launches for that day, it was a devastating blow.
Jonas Antonsson, co-founder of indie publisher Raw Fury, took to social media to express how massive, unannounced releases from industry giants like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered can completely overshadow all other titles launching simultaneously.
"I adored Oblivion in my youth and still hold it in the highest regard. I'm personally thrilled to see it revitalized and introduced to a new generation of players," Antonsson stated.
"However, from the perspective of indie developers and publishers, this is the core issue with these enormous shadow drops. Nearly everything else gets lost in the noise. We lack the financial resources and marketing power to compete, so every aspect of a launch is meticulously planned—including the release date—based on the broader release calendar to maximize our chances of being seen."
Antonsson highlighted the case of Red Soul Games' *Post Trauma*, a puzzle-horror title published by Raw Fury on April 22nd. Inspired by PS2-era classics, the game tasks players with navigating eerie environments, confronting threats, and encountering other lost souls within the depths of the Gloom.
"While I admire the game that just launched, I deeply feel for our team and especially the developer we've collaborated with for years—who poured his heart and soul into this project," Antonsson added.
Raw Fury tweeted sarcastically on launch day: "Thank goodness *Post Trauma* was the only notable release today and absolutely nothing else happened!"
From the viewpoint of Bethesda and its parent company Microsoft, the shadow drop of Oblivion Remastered has been a resounding success. The game saw a strong debut on Steam and has dominated online conversations as players revel in the return of its iconic character faces, classic bugs, and beloved memes.
Even other titles Microsoft has heavily marketed are facing stiff competition from Oblivion Remastered. This week, the publisher of *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, Kepler Interactive, acknowledged the 'Barbenheimer'-style challenge of launching in the same week. Both games are available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
For Raw Fury, when they set the release date for *Post Trauma*, there was no way to foresee that Oblivion Remastered was poised to steal the spotlight. It may simply go down as an unfortunate twist of fate.
We have compiled a complete guide to everything in Oblivion Remastered, featuring an expansive Interactive Map, full Walkthroughs for the Main Quest and every Guild Questline, advice on Building the Perfect Character, essential First Steps, all PC Cheat Codes, and much more.
