Rising Tides and Blue Oceans
Finally in the year 2025, you’re allowed to sprint, right on into the Oblivion Remaster! Along with some quality-of-life changes, you also get Unreal Engine 5 fidelity! Also the Rising Tide contest from Blue Ocean is here to lift all indie creators’ boats.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - Explore Cyrodiil like never before with stunning new visuals and refined gameplay in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered. Bethesda Game Studios, Virtuous (Steam, PS5, Xbox Series, Available Now)
This episode, Andy and Josh discuss the recent release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster, highlighting its modern upgrades, including Unreal Engine 5 graphics, refined gameplay mechanics like a sprint button, and new dialogue and cutscenes. The Guys compare it to a full remake rather than just a visual reskin, noting its potential to attract both nostalgic fans and new players. They also touch on Bethesda’s strategy of relying on remasters to stay financially afloat, especially after Starfield underperformed, and speculate about future remakes like Fallout: New Vegas.
The conversation shifts to the broader trend of AAA studios prioritizing remakes and remasters over new IPs, citing examples like The Last of Us, Shadow of the Colossus, and Final Fantasy VII Remake. The Guys express mixed feelings—while they appreciate the nostalgia, they lament the lack of innovation in big-budget games. They contrast this with the indie gaming scene, where fresh ideas thrive, mentioning hits like Phasmophobia, Valheim, and Stardew Valley as proof that smaller teams drive genre evolution.
A major focus is the rise of funding initiatives for indie developers, particularly Blue Ocean Games’ Rising Tide contest, which offers $10,000 to $300,000 to indie teams based on concept trailers. The Guys praise this as a solution to the funding gap for experimental projects, emphasizing how it empowers creators without stifling creativity. They also discuss the growing recognition of indie games’ commercial potential, with AAA studios now eyeing partnerships or investments in smaller teams.
Andy and Josh reflect on the challenges indie developers face, from securing early funding to building communities, and highlight how platforms like Xbox Live Arcade and Steam Greenlight once democratized access. They express hope that initiatives like Rising Tide could revive this spirit, enabling more unique games to flourish without compromising artistic vision. However, they caution against predatory investors exploiting passionate developers.
Closing on an optimistic note, The Guys celebrate the indie scene’s resilience and creativity, urging gamers to support innovative projects. They frame the current industry shift—where AAA remakes coexist with indie breakthroughs—as a pivotal moment, with funding models like Blue Ocean’s potentially reshaping the future of game development.
EXPENSIVE
