Oblivion: Shivering Isles details

By Robert Purchese Published 18 January, 2007

Bethesda confirms expansion.

Bethesda has confirmed that Oblivion expansion The Shivering Isles is in development for PC and Xbox 360, due for a spring 2007 release.

As previously reported, action takes place in the weird and wonderful Oblivion plane of Daedra Prince Sheogorath. He looks to you to become his champion, to defend his realm from impending destruction.

There's about 30 hours of new content here, as you undertake psychotic trials in either the Mania or Dementia side of the land. You've also got new creatures to contend with, from Flesh Atronachs and hideous insects, to skeletal Shambles and amphibious Grummites: presumably some of which will be part of the levelled-enemy clientèle.

New items, ingredients, and spells are available, plus talented craftsmen of Crucible and Bliss will be able to forge armour and weapons just for you.

"The enthusiastic response we've received to our downloadable content has been overwhelming, and we're excited to bring Oblivion fans a full expansion," said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. "The world we've created for Shivering Isles is unlike anything you've seen or played in Oblivion and we can't wait for folks to play it."

The 360 version will be available to download from Xbox Live, whilst PC gamers amongst you will be able to pop to your local retail outlet for a boxed copy, much like recent expansion Knights of The Nine. There's no word on price, or a PS3 version, though we expect both to appear in time.

Satiate your beardy lust with these new screenshots, and don't panic, you'll be able to use your previously saved power-house characters.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (29) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Rohow #1 5 years ago

    Sounds chilly ;)

  • Dr.Mott #2 5 years ago

    I'll be getting this then. Please though Bethesda, try to sort out the loading times. After all the other downloads, it's taking ages.

  • DUFFKING #3 5 years ago

    Looks nice. New cities from the first screen? Bring it on.

  • absolutezero #4 5 years ago

    Read this months PC Zone. Theres a big thing about this.

    lol @ "confirmed" like its just been announced.

  • OnlyMe #5 5 years ago

    I'm probably getting this game again, once I get a PS3. Then I will put it on the harddrive.

  • asphaltcowboy #6 5 years ago

    You spelt psychotic incorrectly!

  • smelly #7 5 years ago

    @OnlyMe : I might get this if i get a ps3.. so erm.. i doubt i'll be getting it.

  • newt #8 5 years ago

    I'm glad that the readers' poll proved there ARE people who actually find Oblivion brilliant. This looks like a lovely addition, Sheogorath's always been one of my favourite Daedra. Wabbajack ftw, yeah.

  • tiddles #9 5 years ago

    never got around to doing the Sheogorath shrine quest - didn't have a piece of yarn when I needed it...

  • Darren #10 5 years ago

    I completed the otherwise excellent Knights of the Nine quest in a little over 5 hours despite Bethesda claiming it was a 10-20 hour quest. I was taking my time over it as well so I was surprised when I realised I'd completed it so quickly. That said my character was on level 31 and although the main enemies were tough, the actual boss was pathetically easy.

    I hope this new quest *really* does last 30 hours this time round, particularly as it looks and sounds great so I deffo want it. I wonder how big the download will be and how much it will cost?

  • Drakron #11 5 years ago

    "The world we've created for Shivering Isles is unlike anything you've seen or played in Oblivion ..."

    Too bad we seen it ... in Morrowind.

    As who is "we"? I serious doubt the president of Bethsoft is doing any actual work in the games.

    Anyway ...

    I don't expect much, I doubt we get something on the scale of "Tribunal", a few new things here and there and its wrap up in a few hours, honestly this is not my cup of tea (I rather had the Elder Council ideas from Oblivion development then this).

  • SomaticSense #12 5 years ago

    Any chance at all of a boxed copy for the 360? Because I bet this will take up massive space on the HDD considering it is a full expansion and not just downloadable content.

    My HDD is already running out of space (330mb left) *cries*

  • crazyhorse174 #13 5 years ago

    Geez...why is everyone so pessamistic around here these days?

    Yes Drakron...this is aimed at you...

  • Kiigan #14 5 years ago

    I wonder if the 360 downloadable version will include new achievements... that'd be nice.

  • jiveguy #15 5 years ago

    Does this have pirates in it? It should if it doesn't.

  • penhalion #16 5 years ago

    Oh for crying out loud!

    Stop already. At this rate they will need to sell the special edition with it's own hard drive O_o

  • Hicksy #17 5 years ago

    Did they ever release an official PC patch to scale the difficulty of the creatures to areas or is it still based on your player level?

  • Moonprince #18 5 years ago

    There's mods that do that. I think back in the day the best was OOO - can't remember what that stands for though...

  • Nova5lag #19 5 years ago

    Well I was a little late on the Oblivion band waggon but so I have only just started it. However, if I ever finish it I will get the expansion because so far its bloody good.

  • Jheronimus #20 5 years ago

    Looks great! Oblivion still manages to attract me back to the game, even after 100+ hours of gameplay!

  • Bitkari #21 5 years ago

    >I hope this new quest *really* does last 30 hours this time round

    It will last about as long as you want it to last, really. Sure, the levelling system allows you to run through most game quests without stopping for breath, but there no need to rush things - you're not playing Call of Duty.

    Just take your time, enjoy the scenery, don't rush straight onto the next quest in your log, and take your hands off the fast-travel button!

  • Darren #22 5 years ago

    @Bitkari - The Knights of the Nine quest was great admittedly but nowhere near 10-20 hours in length. Surely that 10-20 hour estimate should take into account fast travelling since it's a useful feature of the game not a cheat? In fact, I assumed the lower 10 hour estimate was if you fast travelled but apparently not.

    Trust me, I was deliberately taking my time with it, exploring all the caves thoroughly for treasures, etc., and doing the odd one that I came across on my travels too. Still completed it in 5 hours though. Yes, I fast travelled but having played the game for over 250 hours, I was getting fed up of travelling the long way round.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #23 5 years ago

    You spelt psychotic incorrectly!

    Whoops, sorry. Silly old blinder-than-me spellcheckers.

  • Xerx3s #24 5 years ago

    So no boxed version for he 360? I would much rather have a boxed copy than a dl. :(

  • Drakron #25 5 years ago

    @crazyhorse174:

    Because we have reasons.

    How many developers come out and say "30 hours-40 hours!" and then people on average complete then in 20 hours?

    Today game developers are nothing but part of the PR department when they open their mouths and I am a bit feed up of when trying to buy a rabbit and being sold a cat.

    In this case they are not showing much new are they? that type of environment we seen in Morrowind that was my point.

    And you seen nothing ... wait until Fallout 3 gets details to see the hellstorm.

  • kangarootoo #26 5 years ago

    @Drakron

    "Because we have issues."

    Fixed.

  • bonker #27 5 years ago

    Cool.

    I've just started Oblivion myself.

    I'm a whopping 68 hours in and only closed one Obvlivion gate LOL

    I suspect I like to smell the roses a lot more than some folks :)

    Seriously though, anyone who hasn't played Oblivion should check it out (unless you're a GOW-head obviously), it really does still belong right at the very top of the list of 360 titles along with COD2 and you can pick it up for less than £20 now too, unbelievable value ...

  • J0YCIE #28 5 years ago

    Where've you seen it for 20? Its always been 30+ for me. Im thinking about buying it again, get some downloads, reminisce and do side quests. Would really like the expansion on a disk though. But im guessing that'd be much harder. Never mind!

  • darkbhudda #29 5 years ago

    Sure, the levelling system allows you to run through most game quests without stopping for breath

    Not if you did what I did and spent the early levels sneaking around and breaking into peoples houses to steal their food to turn into potions.

    Sure my Security, Sneak and Alchemy were off the charts, but then I ventured out and got slaughtered by a fish. Damn slaughterfish.

    God I love Oblivion, except for the racist comments my Argonian gets. There's only so many "You'll make a fine pair of boots lizard" taunts I can take before I run off and join the Black Panthers.