It’s not as realistic as Oblivion, but this is what Skyrim would look like if it were made with the best versions of Unreal Engine

Could Bethesda surprise us in the coming years with a remastered fifth chapter of The Elder Scrolls?

Update: Apr 23rd, 2025 02:46 CEST

Now that Oblivion Remaster became a reality, it’s only natural to look at its popular succesor: Skyrim, a game that won tons of awards and has had active players adventuring in it for more than a decade. Modders’ passion for refining and upgrading their favorite games is truly remarkable, requiring both deep technical expertise and countless hours of dedication. This is particularly evident in expansive open-world RPGs, where transitioning a game to a new engine is an immense challenge.

Ambitious fan-driven projects, such as the Oblivion remake, highlight the sheer complexity and commitment involved in bringing these visions to life—pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the gaming community.

Now, Skyrim is also undergoing major graphical improvements, with several modding projects in development. Some have been in progress for years, and while many may never be completed, others already provide jaw-dropping previews of what’s possible.

One of the most impressive examples is Leo Torres’ Unreal Engine 5 recreation, which completely reimagines Skyrim’s world with cutting-edge graphics.

Skyrim in Unreal Engine 5 locations – A breathtaking recreation of Skyrim’s iconic locations using Unreal Engine 5, showcasing realistic textures, dynamic lighting, and improved environmental details.

How Unreal Engine 5 transforms Skyrim’s graphics

Using Nanite and Lumen, two of Unreal Engine 5’s most advanced features, Torres has recreated Skyrim’s most iconic locations with next-gen textures, lighting, and reflections.

Nanite allows for high-definition NPC models and objects like plants and terrain.
Lumen introduces dynamic reflections and immersive lighting effects, elevating the game’s realism.

For hardware, Torres utilized an RTX 3090, alongside third-party models featuring custom Blender assets. The results, showcased on his YouTube channel, reveal a breathtaking transformation that not only surpasses the original game’s visuals but rivals the graphics of modern AAA titles.

Will Skyrim ever get an official UE5 remake?

Right now, Leo Torres’ recreations serve as technical demos, meaning they aren’t playable—at least for now.

However, given the overwhelming fan demand for Skyrim next-gen graphics, could Bethesda eventually remaster the game using Unreal Engine 5 or another cutting-edge engine?

For now, Torres has worked on eleven separate Unreal Engine 5 projects, including recreations of High Hrothgar, Markarth, Whiterun, and Helgen under attack by a dragon, showcasing fire effects, advanced shadows, and lighting intricacies.

Markarth Unreal Engine 5 Remaster – A detailed reimagining of Markarth’s stone architecture in Unreal Engine 5, with intricate high-resolution textures, improved reflections, and atmospheric lighting.

Where Does Skyrim Go Next?

The modding community has always been a part of the backbone of Skyrim’s longevity, introducing remasters, reworks, and even full-scale overhauls.

While Torres’ project isn’t playable, could a talented development team collaborate with him and turn Skyrim into a fully playable Unreal Engine 5 version or will Bethesda do it like the new Oblivion Remaster?

Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!