The way skyblivion has been implemented avoids all this. They have made it very clear they are not in any way using original assets or providing the game. They are mods that utilize both Skyrim and Oblivion game files and you must have both for it to work. It is modding those game files, not providing them.
Comment on Skyblivion fan project lead reacts to Oblivion remake news with "all love and no hate"
dan1101@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Yeah, it’s all cool until Bethesda or their owners issue a takedown.
callouscomic@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
If I recall correctly the team behind Skyblivion was (or still is) in contact with Bethesda throughout the development and had no problems with the latter in regards their work. Heck, Bethesda itself posted about the mod on their site in 2023.
They’ve been aware of Skyblivion for years and there’s no indication they’re interested in killing it.
Carmakazi@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
That goodwill can change in an instant, especially if they are releasing a competing product, and especially if the legal team gets in the loop rather than the development staff.
Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Can it change? Sure. There’s just no reason to expect that based on Bethesda’s approach to modding until now. I’d rather base my expectations on their past actions rather than assume the worst just in case.
TommySalami@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
skyblivion is great marketing, and it’s free to let them keep going for now. Keep people excited about a new oblivion, and then kill the only other option besides yourself. I actually think it’s more likely than not that there is a last minute reversal.
Enzy@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Well the “product” is a free overhaul mod.
Carmakazi@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
That cuts into Bethesda’s paid re-release.
Cethin@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
It can’t if they’ve made legally binding agreements, which I would hope that they have.
Enzy@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Bethesda is pretty open about their support in modding.
Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Exactly, which is why I don’t expect them to do anything hostile towards this project - both remakes have their own goals and approaches after all.
VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Also, Skyblivion will, at worst, only cut into their PC sales. The official remake will be the only option available on consoles due to the nature of the mod.
lath@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Maybe they aren’t, but what about the company that is doing the remake? They might argue it will hamper their ability to meet estimated sales and overall profit.
Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
At the end of the day Virtuos are just a contractor - Bethesda are the ones with final say in the matter. Despite all their flaws they never really showed to be hostile towards these kind of projects (or at least I haven’t seen them act that way) so there’s no reason to automatically expect the worst. That’s just my opinion though.
radix@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
For all their faults, Bethesda may be the most mod-friendly AAA studio out there right now.
I can vaguely recall a single instance where they shut someone down, and that was over re-used audio assets from an older game. That was almost certainly about contractual licensing obligations to voice actors.
Cethin@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
They don’t have any rights to Oblivion as an IP. They’ve been contracted to make this game and that’s where their rights end.
lath@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It’s not about IP rights, but about contractual obligations. If the mod affects those in some way, the company might ask Bethesda to make it go away.