The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Announced For Xbox 360

Although we already knew it was part of their plans, Bethesda Softworks has issued a press release announcing that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is headed to the Xbox 360.

Bethesda Softworks and 2K Games Announce The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Video Game and Entertainment System

One of the Most Anticipated Next Generation Role Playing Games to Debut at E3 With Revolutionary Graphics and Game Play

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 16 /PRNewswire/ — Bethesda Softworks and 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO – News) today announced that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion(TM), the highly anticipated and definitive next-generation role playing game, will be available on the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Oblivion, the long awaited fourth installment in the award-winning Elder Scrolls series, will make its public debut at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles on May 18. With revolutionary technology powered by Xbox 360 and Bethesda’s powerful development engine and groundbreaking Radiant AI(TM) system, Oblivion provides gamers with the most life-like gaming experience to date. The powerful combination of unprecedented graphics and freeform game play allows gamers to unravel the main quest or explore the vast world at their own pace.

“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, tasking the gamer with finding the lost heir to the throne while combating the demons loosed from the gates of Oblivion, or hell. Pioneering technology makes Oblivion’s combat more bloody and visceral, as the gamer navigates his way through lifelike towns, dungeons, and the most realistic forests ever created. Oblivion has already received a wealth of pre-launch attention, and has been recognized as one of this year’s most highly-anticipated games.

“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.”

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has not yet been rated by the ESRB and is slated to ship for PC and Xbox 360 in winter 2005. For more information on Oblivion and the Elder Scrolls series, please visit the official web site at www.elderscrolls.com.

About Bethesda Softworks®

Headquartered in Rockville, MD, Bethesda Softworks LLC is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software and has produced numerous award-winning titles, most recently the 2002 PC and Xbox® Game of the Year and RPG of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind®. Among Bethesda’s more popular franchises are The Elder Scrolls® series, Fallout®, and the IHRA Drag Racing series, as well as its licensed property, Pirates of the Caribbean(TM). Its product line spans the sports, racing, RPG, strategy, and action genres. Bethesda Softworks is a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media Inc. For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is an integrated global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games and accessories for the PC, PlayStation® game console, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP(TM) handheld entertainment system, the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCube(TM), Nintendo DS(TM) and Game Boy® Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games and Global Star Software; and distributes products in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two also manufactures and markets video game accessories in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region through its Joytech subsidiary. The Company maintains sales and marketing offices in Cincinnati, New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Munich, Madrid, Vienna, Milan, Sydney, Breda (Netherlands) and Auckland. Take-Two’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.