Skyblivion, the ambitious project that melds The Elder Scrolls IV into the world of Skyrim using its engine, has just released a tantalizing sneak peek of quest gameplay at the Community Creations Con (C3) before its anticipated 2025 debut.
While originally slated for about 30 minutes, the gameplay footage stretched to 40 minutes. It’s understandable, though—sometimes, you find an NPC lounging somewhere unexpected, throwing a fun wrench in your plans.
The team recently reached a significant milestone by completing the landscaping for Cyrodiil’s last region, the Niben Basin and Valley. This time, their gameplay showcase zooms in on Cheydinhal and its surrounding areas.
During the event, we saw quick previews of two quests: one from the Fighters Guild that involves sorting out Biene Amelion’s debt and the beloved “A Brush with Death.” If you don’t recall the latter, it’s the quest where you wander into the painted world of dark elf Rythe Lythandas, brandishing a magic brush to liberate him.
What truly stood out was the level of detail and polish that the Skyblivion team has managed to infuse into these recreated environments. Project lead Kyle ‘Rebelzize’ Rebel took a nostalgic stroll into Cheydinhal—it was a moment that transported me back to the many times I’d done the same in both the original and modded versions of Oblivion. It’s gratifying to see how they’ve preserved the game’s nostalgic essence while smoothing over its 2006-era rough spots.
In its original form, the painted world in Oblivion seemed quaint unless you leaned into its artistic, oil painting-esque aesthetic. In Skyblivion, though, it evolves into a more expansive and detailed dungeon, maintaining its visual charm even in Skyrim’s more realistic art style, right down to a climactic room that replicates the look of a blank canvas.
Additionally, the new interaction menu user interface is worth a mention. It has been uniquely tailored to blend Oblivion’s vibe into the existing, Skyrim-flavored inventory, compass, and map—unsurprisingly, considering it runs on TES V. And as you confront skeleton foes, you might notice a bony creature with a tail, thanks to the modders ingeniously creating unique skeletons for elves and beast races, taking things a step further than even Skyrim did.
While there’s no firm release date to whittle down the broad 2025 launch window, the developers assured us during the showcase, “We are confident we can get it out this year.”
What’s your take on the latest Skyblivion gameplay reveal? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t miss our exclusive interview with Skyblivion’s project lead Rebel—especially if you’re curious about the team’s take on those swirling Oblivion remake rumors.
