The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Is Once Again Offering Paid Horse Armor DLC

In 2006, Bethesda was riding high on the success of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. To keep fans engaged in the world of Cyrodiil, the developer began releasing small, paid DLC packages for the game. Little did they know, they were about to stir up a storm with their first DLC pack released that April: horse armor.

Even if you weren't following the gaming scene back then, you've likely heard of the infamous horse armor controversy. While downloadable content (DLC) existed before this, Oblivion's Horse Armor Pack, priced at 200 Microsoft Points on the 360 Marketplace (around $2.50 at the time), sparked significant debate due to its perceived lack of utility.

Fast forward to 2025, and cosmetic upgrades like horse armor have become a standard in the gaming industry. This shift has allowed Bethesda to playfully reintroduce the concept with the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Alongside the base edition, a deluxe edition is available for an additional $10, offering new quests for unique armors, additional weapon options, a digital artbook, a soundtrack app, and, yes, horse armor once again—two sets, to be exact.

The gaming community has largely taken this in stride. Nearly two decades after the initial shock of cosmetic DLC, players are accustomed to spending money on such enhancements. As Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted on BlueSky, U.S. video game 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, highlighting the evolution of in-game purchases.

Many fans find Bethesda's nod to the past amusing, appreciating the company's willingness to poke fun at what was once a major controversy.

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 horse armor; it's also compatible with mods. Just hours after its launch, a handful of community mods appeared on the popular site Nexus Mods, offering minor customization options.

While we await more mods, you can delve into why some players believe today's release is more of a remake than a remaster and understand Bethesda's decision to label it as "Remastered."

For a comprehensive look at what Oblivion Remastered offers, check out our detailed guide, which includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.