The unexpected release of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* on April 22 created a wave across the internet, reigniting nostalgia for one of the most iconic RPGs in gaming history. However, this surprise drop—often referred to as a “shadow launch”—also cast a long shadow over smaller indie titles set to debut on the same day.
Jonas Antonsson, co-founder of indie publisher Raw Fury, voiced concerns about the impact such massive surprise releases can have on independent developers and publishers. In a social media post, Antonsson acknowledged his personal excitement for *Oblivion Remastered*, calling it a beloved classic that deserves a new audience. However, he also highlighted the challenges faced by indie teams trying to compete in an already crowded market.
"From the perspective of indies and indie publishers, this is the problem with these sort of massive shadow drops. Everything more or less gets buried," Antonsson explained. "We don’t have the cash nor muscle to throw around, so everything is carefully planned—including when to release, based on other releases—to try to maximize the chances of getting attention."
Raw Fury had originally scheduled the release of *Post Trauma*, a puzzle horror title developed by Red Soul Games, for April 22. The game draws inspiration from PS2-era classics and puts players in a haunting world where they must navigate eerie environments, confront threats, and interact with other lost characters deep within the Gloom.
Antonsson expressed disappointment not only for his team but especially for the developer who had poured years of passion into the project. Raw Fury even made a tongue-in-cheek tweet on the day: “Thank god Post Trauma was the only notable release of today and nothing else happened!”
Meanwhile, from Bethesda and Microsoft’s point of view, the *Oblivion Remastered* launch has been a resounding success. The game quickly climbed Steam’s charts and became a hot topic among fans celebrating everything from quirky character faces to nostalgic bugs and memes.
This level of visibility inevitably overshadowed other games launching around the same time—even those backed by Microsoft itself. Kepler Interactive, publisher of *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, humorously noted the “Barbenheimer” effect of going up against *Oblivion Remastered* in the same week, despite both titles launching directly into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
For Raw Fury, the timing of *Post Trauma*’s release wasn’t a miscalculation—it simply couldn’t have predicted *Oblivion Remastered* would drop at the same time. Sometimes, as Antonsson put it, it's just one of those things.
If you're diving into *Oblivion Remastered*, be sure to check out our full guide packed with helpful resources including an [ttpp]Interactive Map[/ttpp], complete walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on building the perfect character, essential early-game strategies, and all PC cheat codes available.
