Skyblivion has lost some of its long-time developers, but the fan project insists it’s still locked on a 2025 release window.
Volunteer devs allege crunch culture
The ambitious mod aims to recreate Oblivion inside Skyrim using Bethesda’s Creation Engine. It has been in the works for over a decade, evolving from a simple port to a full remake with new features and polish.
But not all has gone smoothly. Volunteer-level designer Dee Keyes, who spent nine years on the project, recently announced their exit. In a long statement, Keyes claimed Skyblivion had shifted from a passion project into something resembling crunch development, with “fake polish” in trailers masking unfinished work. Another developer reportedly quit for the same reasons.
Animal Crossing was once deemed too Japanese to localize. Satoru Iwata laughed at the idea, until the team proved him wrong on the GameCube.
Skyblivion team still eyeing a 2025 release
Evan Flatt, the communications lead, reassured fans on Reddit that the team still plans to release Skyblivion by the end of 2025. “Right now, we all agree Skyblivion isn’t ready,” he said. “Our aim is that it will be by the end of the year, and if not, we’ll let you all know.”
Flatt emphasized that development streams are the best way to gauge progress and asked fans to remain patient as the team balances passion with realism.
Why did volunteers feel the project had changed
Keyes explained that the team once had the freedom to explore and refine features, but became pressured after a release date was announced. Attempts to delay were allegedly rejected by leadership. “We are unpaid and part-time. This would be a massive undertaking for a paid team,” Keyes said.
A long road for Oblivion’s fan remake
Even with recent tension, the mod has made significant progress and earned official recognition. Bethesda previously gifted Oblivion Remastered keys to the team, and GOG highlighted the mod in its One-Click Mod initiative. The project has remained in the spotlight through dev diaries and high-profile trailers, which helped build hype but also set steep expectations.
Key features promised for release include:
- Full Oblivion world recreated in Skyrim’s engine
- Updated visuals and new models
- Expanded features and quality-of-life improvements
- New quests and extra content beyond the original
Passion is keeping Skyblivion alive
The project may not be free from conflict, but it isn’t dead. Developers still committed to the mod maintain that the 2025 release target stands. For fans who have waited more than ten years, another delay might sting, but the team insists it will launch only when they’re confident in the result.
