The game is set in the imperial province of Cyrodiil, an expansive territory spanning several square miles. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion takes place in the same universe as its predecessors Arena, Daggerfall, and Morrowind, though its specific storyline is original. In fact, the team didn't get final hardware until the last six months or so of development. This meant that the team would be developing the game for next gen consoles that didn't even exist yet. Todd Howard said that originally the easier route was to do a two year sequel, but through much persuasion he managed to convince the 'upper management' to give them four years to work on Oblivion. Bethesda also released a Game Of The Year Edition and a Collector's Edition.
The game was developed by Bethesda Softworks for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
Players are free to explore the open world of Cyrodiil however they wish, giving Oblivion a unique sandbox element. Though the core storyline provides a linear, mission-driven experience, the player is free to pursue a staggering number of side quests that slowly develop and improve their character. Oblivion is an action-oriented role-playing game providing players with a world they can traverse at will.
