Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra certainly made his take on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and remasters clear, a take that will no doubt ruffle a fair few Bethesda as well as many classic RPG fans' feathers. Basically, he just thinks remastered RPGs can never hold up to new stuff like Elden Ring.
As with most any controversial take, he shared it on X, "I'm skeptical about 20 year old remasters. What was once fantastic, now remastered, will never hold up against modern masterpieces like Elden Ring. The bar has simply moved from safe open world RPGs to what Elden Ring brought us all." Many were quick to point out that not every RPG has to be at the same caliber as Elden Ring and not every RPG needs reinvent the wheel. There is still certainly a place for these "safe open world RPGs."
After being told "not every RPG has to be a soulslike," he elaborated a bit more. In truth, his post has a level of rationality, as what he's really talking about is the level of discovery, classes, and combat and the small nice-to-haves that Elden Ring offered up to take things to the next level.
He also believes nostalgia is limited thanks to the number of remasters we've gotten over the years and that now more than, gamers want something fresh to play. "I hear you, but I think we've had so many "remasters" that nostalgia is limited. I could be wrong. But I think the gaming community wants fresh and new more than ever."
Some point out this is an unfair comparison as it's basically comparing apples to oranges -- Bethesda games, remake, remasters, or not, are not made for hardcore RPG fans, at least not anymore, and especially with Oblivion, things can get kinda touchy, as the game has definately been showing its age and considering Bethesda's love for remastering Skyrim, it's a breath of fresh air to see another entry get thrust in front of a modern audience.
Really, the thing that seems to bother people about Ybarra's take is how he seems to assert that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered isn't good just because it isn't trying to be reinvent the wheel.