Oblivion Remastered’s modern makeover comes with modern performance snags

Settings and ray tracing tested

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bethesda Softworks

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is one of those rare games I’ll grind out a performance and settings feature for before continuing to play it – yee gads, what a concept – for fun . It’s more or less exactly what I’d have asked from a modern take, with refreshed visuals and UX improvements bolted directly onto Oblivion’s original, famously bent chassis.

This hybrid engine approach, similar to that of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black , hands off the graphical rendering gubbins to an Unreal Engine 5 layer while keeping all the game logic to a modified version of what is otherwise just the 2006 backend. Preserving, in the process, that janky daftness that accounts for much of Oblivion’s charm, with qualified support for the original’s mods on the side. Still, the performance impact of Oblivion Remastered’s new look is not to be trifled with. Even with DLSS/FSR upscaling support and frame generation , this is a tough one to run smoothly at its highest settings, especially if you deploy the ray tracing effects that (for once) really do enhance and enliven the scenery.

Comparing the bump maps of every blade of glass isn’t the point of this article, but it would be strange not to do any before-and-aftering at all, so: here ya go.

Lower-end gear isn’t off the table – even the Steam Deck can manage reasonable framerates – though I will recommend some tactical quality reductions in the guide further down. First, and because its, uh , attempt at shadowdropping meant we skipped the usual pre-release infodumps, let’s get acquainted with Oblivion Remastered’s system requirements and how they measure up to performance reality.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bethesda Softworks

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered system requirements and PC performance

These aren’t the haughtiest requirements I’ve seen from a UE5 production, to be fair. Graphics cards like the RX 5700 and GTX 1070 Ti will probably seem like excessive minimums to anyone still playing OG Oblivs on their GeForce 7600 GT, but they’re old themselves by 2025 standards. I’m more concerned about the recommended list’s 32GB of RAM, which ain’t a little, and the bulging 125GB SSD requirement. That’s quite the pile of high-def chainmail textures.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered minimum PC specs

• OS: Windows 10 version 21H1 (10.0.19043)
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X / Intel Core i7-6800K
• RAM: 16GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5700 / Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Ti
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 125GB available space, SSD required

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered recommended PC specs

• OS: Windows 10/11 (with updates)
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X / Intel Core i5-10600K
• RAM: 32GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800XT / Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 125GB available space, SSD required

There’s no getting around the remaster’s considerable girth, though evidence suggests that at least the GPU requirements err on the overly cautious. In the relatively demanding overworld section I used for benchmarking, the GTX 1070 – that’s the base, non-Ti version – averaged a more-than-adequate 43fps at 1080p, simply using the Low preset. The GTX 1070 Ti should, therefore, be plenty.

Elsewhere in the cheaper neighbourhoods of PC hardware, the RTX 4060 could just about handle the Ultra preset at 1080p, scoring 33fps. High would be a better starting point, though, producing 53fps, while Medium pumped out a nifty 80fps. Steering clear of Ultra also worked out for the RTX 3070, which on the High preset ended up with 59fps at 1080p, as well as 55fps at 1440p after adding DLSS on Quality mode. Just to get in some premium representation, I also tried the RTX 5080 at 4K, where (on the Ultra preset with DLSS on Quality) it averaged 62fps before climbing to 105fps with frame generation.

You’ll note that none of these results are especially horrid, and to be clear, these are averages taken from a more straining patch of Cyrodiil; castles, caves, and dungeons will run much faster, owing to their simpler and tighter interiors. Even so, that lack of consistency is a concern in itself, since you essentially need to tune Oblivion Remastered’s graphics settings for a kind of worst-case scenario. What’s more, all of those results use the default Lumen lighting effect setting of Low-quality, software-based ray tracing, which isn’t very demanding but lacks the depth and the detailing that hardware-based Lumen offers in exchange for its higher frame tax.

Sadly, the biggest performance headache seems to flare up regardless of how mighty your hardware is: our old friend, stutter. This is a regular occurrence when free-roaming, with hitch-fits sometimes lasting for several seconds, and can even occur when performing such mundane tasks as exiting the waiting screen or opening the pause menu. Some patching work is definitely needed here, and in truth, some of the new visuals could do with touchups while Virtuos are at it. I’ve repeatedly seen glimmers of equipped weapons or nearby trees erroneously melded into screen space reflections, and whatever this lady is doing with her skirt, ma’am, it isn’t working.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bethesda Softworks

Weirdly, the remaster still feels like it improves the structural integrity of Oblivion as well as the graphical fidelity. Install the original game today without mods and you’ll find no shortage of unfixed technical bizarreries, from hideous blurring on high framerates to a deranged options menu that disables anti-aliasing on the Ultra preset because the game thinks AA and HDR lighting are mutually exclusive. Oblivion Remastered has bugs and stuttering, sure, but it’s not broken and/or mad in the same kinds of ways – you just need to make sure that when framerates fall, you’ve given yourself enough headroom to stay out of the red.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bethesda Softworks

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered best settings

Actually, correction: Oblivion Remastered can be a tiny bit mad. The relative performance of each quality preset is far, far more than the some of their parts – when I tested each setting individually, lowering them from Ultra to Medium to see which ate up the most frames, only shadows quality had a major impact. This would suggest that all the others could be left on Ultra with minimal performance drawback, except shadows alone couldn’t account for the vast differences between each preset. On the RTX 4060, remember, Ultra averaged 33fps at 1080p while Medium averaged 80fps, yet setting only shadow quality to Medium (and keeping everything else on Ultra) only produced 43fps.

I’m therefore going to suggest High, rather than Ultra, as a starting point from which to make further tweaks. There’s evidently some manner of Voltron effect with most of the individual settings, where cutting them piecemeal achieves little compared to gathering a whole set of reductions together, and it’s not like High is ugly anyhow.

Nevertheless, it’s worth dropping shadows another level down, and I did get a smaller framerate boost from snipping global illumination quality, so that makes the list as well. Here’s what I’ve landed on:

• Motion blur: Off
• Screen space reflections: On
• Shadow quality: Medium
• Global illumination quality: Medium
• Upscaling technique: DLSS/FSR 3 on Quality
• Lumen hardware RT: On
• Lumen hardware RT lighting mode: High
• Everything else: High

Hardware-based RT can be skipped if you’re on an older GPU that isn’t up to it, but otherwise, this is the one luxury you should afford yourself if you can. It might not replicate the original game’s blinding bloom but it does deliver more of a sun-kissed look that suits the leafy Cyrodiil rather well. Lowering shadows and global illumination, while adding upscaling, also provides the framerate headroom to accommodate ray traced effects: on the RTX 4060 at 1080p, these settings scored 63fps, nearly double the speed of the Ultra preset just with software-based RT. By comparison, the same settings with software Lumen on Low quality produced 74fps, so the smoothness gap isn’t some yawning chasm.

Also, I wouldn’t consider it important enough to include in a list of the air-quote “best” settings, but DLSS frame generation also works fairly well if you’re already pumping out at least 60fps or so without it; this healthy supply of traditionally rendered frames helps absorb the input lag increase from sprinkling in the generated frames. I wouldn’t bother with FSR frame gen, though. Even with a strong foundation of normal frames, it has less of a grasp on consistent frame timings , so the results are noticeably less smooth than DLSS when walking. And this is still a Bethesda RPG, so there’s a fair bit of that.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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