Bethesda Softworks and 2K Games, publisher of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion have announced the title for release on the Xbox 360. Oblivion will make it's first public debut May 18th, 2005, and RPGFan was lucky enough to snag the 10AM slot and will be some of the first people to see the game firsthand. With Microsoft's powerful chipset and Bethesda's groundbreaking Radiant AI system, Oblivion is set to make quite a splash.

"Oblivion is by far one of the most graphically captivating games ever made, but the technology powering this game is doing so much more than just making it look good," said Todd Howard, executive producer for Oblivion. "The Xbox 360 gives us the freedom to build a game that is not only visually unsurpassed, but also completely customizable to the player's desire. Technology has finally caught up to our vision of creating a fully immersive fantasy world that looks as amazing as it is fun to play."

Played from a first- or third-person perspective, Oblivion opens with the mysterious death of the Emperor of Tamriel, and the player must find the lost heir to the throne. However, the player must also combat demons that have been released from the gate to Oblivion on his travels.

"The team at Bethesda has pushed the RPG genre forward exponentially with Oblivion and it makes for a stunning example of what the next generation Xbox is capable of," said Christoph Hartmann, Managing Director for 2K Games. "The power of this new technology coupled with the talented developers at Bethesda, ensure that the Xbox 360 release from 2K Games and Bethesda Softworks will undoubtedly be an unforgettable gaming experience."

Oblivion will be released this Winter for both the Xbox 360 and PC platforms. Keep your eye out on RPGFan Wednesday morning for our impressions of this new title.

• Bethesda Softworks Official Homepage