Oblivion Remastered's wildest bug made me choose between losing achievements or living as a fugitive

1. Games
2. RPGs
3. The Elder Scrolls
4. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Oblivion Remastered's wildest bug made me choose between losing achievements or living as a fugitive Features By Sophie Ulanoff published 29 January 2026

Now Playing | A well-known bug sent me on a journey across the map in Oblivion Remastered and I will never break the law again

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

Oblivion Remastered cannot be mistaken for a remake. Many have done so since its release in April of last year, admonishing Bethesda for leaving in so many of the classic game's bugs, while the remaster never promised anything other than itself. A few quality of life changes here and there, yes, but the game essentially underwent a beautiful makeover. This means that anyone expecting Bethesda's remaster to not feature all of its bugs and glitches – ranging from silly, such as leaving in a voice actor's stumbling over their lines, to game-breaking, where one retrieved item early on permanently prevents a quest from activating – is sorely mistaken.

I knew all about Oblivion's potential for game-breaking bugs, and in all honestly, went into it with far too much hubris. Clearly, I wouldn't fall victim to what thousands of players over the past two decades have; I'm built different.

Reader: they were not built different.

You may like

• I turned every Oblivion NPC into a sheep and broke the game, but I can only blame myself
• Almost 30 years later, Fallout 1's depth of choice, chance, and consequence is still an RPG gold standard
• Bethesda returned to its 2006 RPG with Oblivion Remastered after deciding "what to modernize and what not to modernize," and it just "makes sense"

Bounty hunted

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)Baaa humbug

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

I turned every Oblivion NPC into a sheep and broke the game, but I can only blame myself

And so began the long, arduous, horseless, journey across the map of Cyrodiil that was so tedious I abandoned the game for two months. Why? Because I pissed off the guards – I don't remember how, possibly trespassing? – and they became permanently hostile towards me.Any time enemies – whether that be guards, mobs, or bandits – have you on their hitlist, you're locked out of the ability to both wait and, most importantly, fast travel.

Before I realized I was already doomed, however, I made the journey – on foot, as I didn't know where my horse was at this time and was blissfully ignorant to what a major problem this would soon be – to Bruma and had my Doyen, S'krivva, clear my bounty. Unfortunately, I quickly realized the guards were still after me. No matter where I went, these guards were – supposedly – on my tail. I couldn't see them, and guards I encountered in other cities had no issue with me. These determined enforcers of Cyrodiil law were from one specific incident that I can't even recall, and they would stop at nothing to reach me.

Guards are also shockingly difficult to kill, and I didn't want to deal with the repercussions of that if I even did manage to find them and commit capital murder. Besides, I had travelled all the way to Bruma – on foot, as you may remember – to clear my bounty and those guards were so far gone I doubt the game's engine even had them spawned anywhere.

I was now at an impasse. My Shadowmere was where I left him, except, as you may remember, I didn't know where that was, because whenever I fast travelled, he simply appeared. Who needs to keep track of their horse when he's got that clutch skill? This meant no fast travel, no horse. Luckily, my athletics level was upwards of 80, making me an expert at running – although I don't recommend switching to third-person POV in a situation like this, because you will realize just how painfully slow you actually move.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You're probably asking "Why didn't you just use console commands?" Well, I would have loved to, but I play Oblivion Remastered through Game Pass, and the usage of console commands on this platform permanently disables achievements. Yes, I wish I had bought the game on Steam.

It's behind me, right?

(Image credit: Bethesda, Gamerant/Erik Petrovich)

I can't claim I desire a remake when its less game-breaking bugs are endless fuel for entertainment.

Upon realizing the guards were still aggro'd despite paying off my bounty, and other failed fixes such as sleeping for 24 hours, it was time to go to Reddit, where the ancient texts lie.With console commands not being an option, I was presented with my fix: enter an Oblivion gate, and close it. Not exactly the reason why Patrick Stewart had pleaded with me to "close shut the jaws of Oblivion" before he was brutally murdered, but I'm still getting the job done.

Oblivion gates are one of the weaker aspects of the game in my opinion, due to their repetitive nature and maze-like maps. I try not to do them unless I'm in the mood to kill the same five enemies repeatedly while getting lost in the wastes of Oblivion, or they pertain to a certain quest. Still, I wanted to be able to fast-travel. I missed my evil horse.

You may like

• I turned every Oblivion NPC into a sheep and broke the game, but I can only blame myself
• Almost 30 years later, Fallout 1's depth of choice, chance, and consequence is still an RPG gold standard
• Bethesda returned to its 2006 RPG with Oblivion Remastered after deciding "what to modernize and what not to modernize," and it just "makes sense"

I'm currently chipping away at the "Allies For Bruma" mission, and decided to head to the next Oblivion gate that I needed to close in that questline. Unfortunately, that was all the way in Leyawiin. In case you're wondering where Leyawiin is in relation to Bruma, I'll paint you a picture: not even fucking close.

So began my trek. The trek that had me abandon the game for two months. The trek that brought me to an Oblivion gate I did not feel like dealing with yet, but was my only path to freedom from the "You cannot fast travel while guards are pursuing you" hellscape I'd found myself in.

Last week, I finished my journey and sealed Leyawiin's Oblivion gate. When I walked out of that gate and opened the map to fast travel somewhere, anywhere, I nearly cried tears of joy.

Never again will I believe myself to be too good to fall victim to Oblivion's infamous bugs and glitches. The game is a true-to-form remaster, and I can't claim I desire a remake when its less game-breaking bugs are endless fuel for entertainment. But it's an important differentiation for myself and other newer players to make. Next time you venture into Cyrodiil, tread carefully, dear reader; I'll be doing the same.

Waiting eagerly for more on The Elder Scrolls 6? Here's the lowdown on what we know about the upcoming RPG so far

CATEGORIES Xbox Series X PS5 PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation Sophie UlanoffContributor

Sophie is a freelance gaming writer with a love for a large range of genres, honing in on indies, RPGs, and narrative adventures. If a game makes them cry, it immediately earns a spot among their favorites. They particularly enjoy spotlighting new indie games as well as discussing everything going on in the gaming world. When they're not writing, they're working through their massive backlog or possibly crocheting.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more I turned every Oblivion NPC into a sheep and broke the game, but I can only blame myself    Almost 30 years later, Fallout 1's depth of choice, chance, and consequence is still an RPG gold standard    Bethesda returned to its 2006 RPG with Oblivion Remastered after deciding "what to modernize and what not to modernize," and it just "makes sense"    As an Elder Scrolls Online veteran, I'm worried its new seasonal model could kill my favorite MMORPG    2 years since Baldur's Gate 3 sicced me on real-life D&D, my favorite video games of 2025 prove I've become truly obsessed    41 hours into Divinity Original Sin 2, I wish I'd broken a golden RPG rule    Latest in The Elder Scrolls The Elder Scrolls 6 setting may have been decided when Bethesda was working on Fallout 4, former Skyrim lead teases    As an Elder Scrolls Online veteran, I'm worried its new seasonal model could kill my favorite MMORPG    Elder Scrolls Online lead says Microsoft's layoffs aren't the reason the MMO is switching over to smaller updates    Skyrim's co-lead wanted a cliffhanger ending for The Elder Scrolls 6, but now he knows that's "completely unfeasible"    Former Fallout artist says The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced so early because "it had been so long already since Skyrim"    Fallout 5 and Elder Scrolls 6 are in a no-win situation due to fan expectations, former Bethesda lead artist says    Latest in Features Oblivion Remastered's wildest bug made me choose between losing achievements or living as a fugitive    I love Highguard's 2Fort-style sieges – when they actually happen    I'm loving Fallout season 2, but it suddenly has a Star Wars problem    There's no end in sight for official Pokemon Gengar gaming accessories, and I'm 100% okay with that    Everything you need to know about Disney Lorcana Winterspell    New Fallout solo RPG lets you go off the beaten track, no gamemaster or party required    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Cairn review: "This climber has a grip on me – even when it loses its footing with awkward systems"
2. 2The Doom Arena Board Game is hell on Earth (in the best way) | Preview
3. 3This award-winning board game is a five star must-have
4. 4Code Vein 2 review: "This vampire take on Elden Ring almost works, but the dungeons themselves lack bite"
5. 5Origin Story review: "This superhero adventure is worth suiting up for"

1. 1Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
2. 228 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
3. 3Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
4. 4Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
5. 5Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"

1. 1Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
2. 2Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
3. 3A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
4. 4Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
5. 5Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”