The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered vs Dune: Awakening

• Perspective: First-Person, Third-Person
• Setting: Cyrodiil, Tamriel
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Game Pass
• Included DLC: All original add-ons, including Shivering Isles
• Unique Feature: Hybrid engine approach, combining an Unreal Engine 5 visual layer with the original Gamebryo core for authentic gameplay.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
• Setting: Arrakis (Alternate Timeline)
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 (2026), Xbox Series X/S (2026)
• PC Release: 2025-06-10
• Unique Feature: A blend of deep survival crafting with a persistent MMO structure, featuring a player-driven political system and a world physically changed by weekly Coriolis storms.

• Quest-Specific Followers: The game retains the original's approach to companions, where followers are temporary and tied to specific quests (e.g., Knights of the Nine). A permanent companion system was not added.
  Various (Human, Orc, etc.)

• Other Players: As an MMO, the primary 'companions' are other players. Players can form official Guilds (representing minor houses) to build massive bases, harvest spice together, and wage large-scale PvP warfare.
  Human

• Daedric Artifacts: Earned by completing quests for the 15 Daedric Princes. Each artifact is a unique and powerful item with special enchantments.
• Ayleid Statues: Hidden statues found within the many Ayleid ruins scattered across Cyrodiil. Collecting them all results in a significant reward.
• Skill Books: Books found throughout the world that grant a free level-up to a specific skill when read for the first time.

• Schematics: Found in points of interest, looted from enemies, or traded on The Exchange. Essential blueprints for crafting all items.
• Spice: Harvested from spice blows in the open desert. The game's most important resource for wealth, power, and character progression.
• Lore Databanks: Scattered across Arrakis in abandoned research stations and ancient ruins. They provide insight into the game's alternate timeline and the deep history of Dune.

• High Fantasy
• Hero's Journey
• Demonic Invasion
• Open World Exploration
• Political Intrigue
• Good vs. Evil

• Survival
• Sci-Fi
• Open World
• Crafting
• Base Building
• Political Intrigue
• Faction Warfare
• Exploration
• MMO

• Blade: Swords, Daggers, Katanas
  One-handed and two-handed bladed weapons. Remastered with high-quality models and textures.
• Blunt: Maces, Warhammers, Axes
  Heavy-hitting weapons that are effective against skeletons and heavily armored foes.
• Bow: Bows and Arrows
  Ranged physical combat. Features modernized archery mechanics for a better feel.
• Magic Staffs: Destruction, Conjuration, etc.
  Staves that allow non-magic users to cast powerful spells without using their own Magicka.

• Melee Weapons: Daggers, Swords
  Close-quarters combat weapons, including the iconic Crysknife. Essential for fighting in tight spaces and when stealth is required.
• Ranged Weapons: Pistols, Rifles
  Standard projectile firearms for engaging enemies from a distance. Effectiveness varies based on range and enemy type.
• Heavy Weapons: Lasguns, Flamethrowers
  High-powered weapons for dealing significant damage. Lasguns are extremely powerful but can cause a catastrophic explosion if they hit a shield.
• Explosives: Grenades, Demolition Charges
  Used for area-of-effect damage, breaching structures, or creating tactical advantages in combat.

• Light Armor: Includes Leather, Elven, Glass, and other sets. Offers less protection but allows for faster movement and less stamina drain.
• Heavy Armor: Includes Iron, Steel, Dwarven, Orcish, Ebony, and Daedric sets. Offers maximum protection at the cost of movement speed and weight.
• Shields: Used for blocking. Can be either Light or Heavy Armor. Features enhanced blocking and staggering mechanics.

• Stillsuit: The most critical piece of gear. Primarily provides thirst reduction by recycling moisture. Different tiers of stillsuits can be crafted, offering better efficiency and some protection.
• Combat Armor: Craftable sets of armor that provide physical damage resistance against creatures and other players. Can be aligned visually with faction styles, such as the Sardaukar Bator Armor from the Deluxe Edition.
• Environmental Gear: Specialized gear designed to offer protection against environmental hazards beyond dehydration, such as the intense heat of the desert or specific storm effects.

• Common Clothing: Various sets of non-protective clothing like robes, shirts, pants, and shoes, used for aesthetic purposes or for characters who do not wear armor.
• Enchanted Robes & Jewelry: Clothing and accessories (rings, amulets) that provide magical enchantments, such as Fortify Magicka or Resist Magic. Features high-resolution models for these items.

• Faction Armor Sets: Players can craft and wear armor that reflects their political allegiance, such as armor in the style of House Atreides or House Harkonnen.
• Cosmetic Outfits: Various cosmetic items are available, including the iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film 'Dune' (part of the Ultimate Edition), allowing for visual customization without affecting stats.
• Dyes: Players can use dyes to change the color of their gear and vehicles, allowing for further personalization. The 'Sunset Dye Global Swatch' is a pre-order bonus.

The remaster features a reworked progression system. While the 21 classic skills return, the controversial level-scaling of the original has been redesigned to be more akin to Skyrim's system, where the world has a mix of static-level and level-scaled enemies. This provides a more balanced difficulty curve. The core mechanic of improving your seven chosen Major Skills to level up remains.

Players can learn skills from various iconic schools of the Dune universe. This includes mastering the persuasive 'Voice' of the Bene Gesserit, the lightning-fast calculations of a Mentat, or the deadly blade techniques of a Swordmaster. Progression is also tied to discovering and crafting schematics for better gear, weapons, tools, and base components.

The game world is a remastered version of Cyrodiil from the original game, a 16 square mile (41 km²) map. It features diverse regions, including the Great Forest, the swamps of Blackwood, the snowy Jerall Mountains, the Gold Coast, and the Nibenay Valley, all surrounding the massive Imperial City at its center.

The world is divided into several large zones. The Hagga Basin is a vast, persistent PvE-focused map where players build their permanent bases. The Deep Desert is an even larger, seamless PvPvE map that is periodically scoured and reshaped by massive Coriolis storms, revealing new resources and points of interest. There are also social hubs like Arrakeen and Harko Village where players from many servers can interact peacefully.

• Ornithopter ('Thopter): Air Vehicle
  An essential flying machine with flapping wings, used for fast transportation across the vast deserts of Arrakis and for scouting from the air.
• Sandbike: Ground Vehicle
  A fast, nimble one-person ground vehicle used for quick traversal over dunes. It's one of the first vehicles a player can craft.
• Spice Harvester: Industrial Vehicle
  A massive, slow-moving factory on tracks used to automatically gather spice from the sand. Its rhythmic vibrations are a dinner bell for nearby sandworms.
• Groundcar: Ground Vehicle
  A multi-person, durable ground vehicle, slower than a sandbike but offering more protection and transport capacity.

• The Hero of Kvatch: Playable Protagonist
  The player's custom character. A prisoner who becomes embroiled in the Oblivion Crisis and is eventually named the champion of Cyrodiil.
• Martin Septim: Primary NPC
  The last surviving heir to the Septim throne, initially living as a priest in the city of Kvatch. Voiced by Sean Bean in the original.
• Mehrunes Dagon: Primary Antagonist
  The Daedric Prince of Destruction, Change, and Ambition. His goal is to merge his realm of Oblivion with Tamriel, destroying the mortal world.
• Sheogorath: Key Character (Shivering Isles)
  The charismatic and dangerously unpredictable Daedric Prince of Madness, who rules over the Shivering Isles and tasks the player with stopping the Greymarch.

• Player Character: Protagonist
  A fully customizable character who survives a 'thopter crash on Arrakis. Players forge their own path, choosing to align with factions, build an empire, or simply survive the desert.
• Duke Leto Atreides: Faction Leader (NPC)
  The head of House Atreides. In this alternate timeline, he survives the initial Harkonnen betrayal, continuing to lead his house and fight for control of Arrakis.
• Baron Vladimir Harkonnen: Faction Leader (NPC)
  The cruel and cunning leader of House Harkonnen, the primary antagonist faction vying for control of the spice trade.
• Bene Gesserit Sisters: Skill Trainers / Political Figures (NPCs)
  Members of the secretive sisterhood who can teach players their powerful mental abilities, like the Voice, while pursuing their own mysterious agenda.

• Main Quest
  Find Martin Septim, protect him, recover the Amulet of Kings, and stop Mehrunes Dagon's invasion by closing the gates to Oblivion.
• Guild Questlines
  Rise through the ranks of the various guilds: The Fighters Guild, The Mages Guild, The Thieves Guild, and the Dark Brotherhood. Each has its own extensive and unique story.
• Daedric Shrine Quests
  Locate the hidden shrines to the 15 Daedric Princes and complete their often bizarre and morally ambiguous tasks to earn powerful Daedric Artifacts.

• Main Questline
  Follow a narrative that explores the mysteries of the alternate timeline, the reason for your character's arrival on Arrakis, and the secrets behind the spice.
• Faction Contracts
  Complete various tasks for the lesser houses to earn their favor and influence their allegiance towards either House Atreides or House Harkonnen in the weekly political struggle.
• Spice Harvesting Operations
  Locate a valuable spice blow, deploy a harvester, defend it against sandworms and other players, and successfully extract the spice for profit and power.
• Base Construction
  Gather resources and use schematics to build and upgrade a personal or guild headquarters, from a simple survival shelter to a massive fortress.

The game is a full-fledged MMO. It features large-scale PvP in the Deep Desert over resources and territory, cooperative PvE in the Hagga Basin, a player-driven economy via 'The Exchange', and a political system where player guilds (Houses) can influence server-wide laws by aligning with House Atreides or House Harkonnen in the Landsraad.

The game is available in a Standard Edition and a Digital Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game and all DLC, plus new exclusive quests that reward players with Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon themed armor and weapon sets, a digital artbook, and the official soundtrack.

The game launched with three editions: Standard Edition ($49.99), Deluxe Edition ($69.99 - includes base game, 5-day early access, Season Pass), and Ultimate Edition ($89.99 - includes Deluxe content plus additional cosmetic items like vehicle swatches, building sets, the Dune (2021) Film Stillsuit, and a digital artbook & soundtrack).

The base remaster includes all original DLC. The major expansions are Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles. It also includes the smaller add-ons: Fighter's Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune's Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard's Tower, The Orrery, and the Horse Armor Pack.

A Season Pass is available, which includes the first four planned DLCs. The first DLC, 'Wildlife of Arrakis', was scheduled to be released shortly after launch, with three more ('Lost Harvest', 'Raiders of the Broken Lands', 'The Water Wars') planned through mid-2026.

• Q: When was The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered released?
  A: It was released on April 22, 2025.
• Q: What platforms is the remaster on?
  A: It is available on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S (including Game Pass), and PlayStation 5.
• Q: Is this a full remake or a remaster?
  A: It is a comprehensive remaster. It uses the original game's foundation and code (Gamebryo engine) but features a complete visual overhaul using Unreal Engine 5, along with significant gameplay and quality-of-life updates.
• Q: Does the remaster include the DLC?
  A: Yes, it is a complete package that includes all original DLC, most notably the 'Knights of the Nine' and 'Shivering Isles' expansions.

• Q: What kind of game is Dune: Awakening?
  A: It's an open-world survival MMO that combines the crafting, building, and survival mechanics of games like Conan Exiles with the large-scale multiplayer, political, and economic systems of an MMO.
• Q: When did Dune: Awakening release for PC?
  A: The full PC release was on June 10, 2025. Early access for Deluxe/Ultimate edition owners began on June 5, 2025.
• Q: Is Dune: Awakening coming to PS5 or Xbox?
  A: Yes, a release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S is planned for 2026.
• Q: Do I need to have read the books or seen the movies?
  A: No, the game is set in an alternate timeline, making it accessible to newcomers. However, fans of the Dune universe will recognize many characters, locations, and concepts.
• Q: Is the whole map PvP?
  A: No. The starting zone, Hagga Basin, is primarily PvE with small, opt-in PvP areas. The endgame zone, the Deep Desert, is where large-scale, open PvP occurs.
• Q: Can I play Dune: Awakening solo?
  A: You can play solo, but as an online MMO, you will share the world with thousands of other players. The game's challenges and political systems are designed to encourage group play and joining guilds.
• Q: What happens to my base when the Coriolis storms hit?
  A: Your main base in the Hagga Basin is permanent and safe from the storms. The storms only affect the Deep Desert, which resets weekly, destroying all player-built structures there and revealing new landscapes to explore.

Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game features a highly detailed and vast Arrakis. Key visual elements include dynamic weather, massive Coriolis storms that physically alter the landscape weekly, realistic sand physics, and awe-inspiring sandworms that can devour players and vehicles.

The sound design emphasizes the harsh environment, with the roar of sandworms and the howling of sandstorms being key audio cues for survival. The musical score is inspired by the cinematic universe, aiming for an epic, atmospheric, and alien soundscape.

The UI is designed around survival, prominently displaying thirst levels. It includes standard MMO features like a map, quest log, and crafting menus, as well as a dedicated interface for the server-wide auction house, The Exchange, and political menus for the Landsraad system.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's release on Steam (April 2025). These specifications reflect the demands of the Unreal Engine 5 graphical overhaul layered on top of the original game's core logic.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is heavily dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and cooling solution. A modern gaming laptop that meets or exceeds these specifications is recommended.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Sufficient TGP is essential for laptop GPUs to match the performance of their desktop counterparts and maintain stable framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Effective cooling is crucial to prevent performance throttling during long gameplay sessions in the detailed open world.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A strong CPU is needed for handling the complex Radiant AI, physics, and maintaining performance in busy cities or large battles.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Recommended for bypassing the integrated GPU to reduce latency and maximize performance in first-person combat.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The game includes support for NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS, allowing players to achieve higher framerates at demanding resolutions.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Shadow Quality, Texture Quality, God Rays, Foliage Density, and View Distance are the most performance-intensive settings.
• Game Name: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Dune: Awakening (Released June 2025). The game requires an SSD for storage. These specs are for the PC launch; console versions are planned for 2026.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of the listed desktop GPUs must have comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and cooling solution. For an MMO with large-scale battles, a robust cooling system is recommended to maintain performance.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Sufficient TGP is crucial for maintaining stable framerates, especially in visually dense areas or large-scale PvP.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is vital to prevent thermal throttling during long sessions of harvesting, crafting, or fighting.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A strong multi-core CPU is beneficial for handling the large number of players and complex world interactions inherent in an MMO.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to ensure the dedicated GPU is used directly, reducing latency for better combat responsiveness.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: As a modern Unreal Engine 5 title, support for technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR is expected, allowing players to boost performance at higher resolutions.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, View Distance, and Effects Detail will significantly impact performance. View distance is particularly important in the vast open deserts of Arrakis.
• Game Name: Dune: Awakening

• Upscaling Tech: The game includes support for NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS, allowing players to achieve higher framerates at demanding resolutions.
• Key Settings Impact: Shadow Quality, Texture Quality, God Rays, Foliage Density, and View Distance are the most performance-intensive settings.

• Upscaling Tech: As a modern Unreal Engine 5 title, support for technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR is expected, allowing players to boost performance at higher resolutions.
• Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, View Distance, and Effects Detail will significantly impact performance. View distance is particularly important in the vast open deserts of Arrakis.

• G P U T G P: Sufficient TGP is essential for laptop GPUs to match the performance of their desktop counterparts and maintain stable framerates.
• Cooling Thermals: Effective cooling is crucial to prevent performance throttling during long gameplay sessions in the detailed open world.
• C P U Power Limits: A strong CPU is needed for handling the complex Radiant AI, physics, and maintaining performance in busy cities or large battles.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Recommended for bypassing the integrated GPU to reduce latency and maximize performance in first-person combat.

• G P U T G P: Sufficient TGP is crucial for maintaining stable framerates, especially in visually dense areas or large-scale PvP.
• Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is vital to prevent thermal throttling during long sessions of harvesting, crafting, or fighting.
• C P U Power Limits: A strong multi-core CPU is beneficial for handling the large number of players and complex world interactions inherent in an MMO.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to ensure the dedicated GPU is used directly, reducing latency for better combat responsiveness.