Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion sells 1.7 million copies

Bethesda Softworks has announced that its Elder Scroll’s IV : Oblivion game has sold more than 1.7 million copies on both PC and Xbox 360 platforms. The game accounted for 13% of PC game sales in the first week of release and has also become the fastest selling game ever on the Xbox 360.

The storyline of Oblivion is what one expect from a classical role-playing game. The player must find a successor to the throne as the previous emperor has been assassinated. The task is complicated by the periodic appearance of demons that attack towns across Oblivion’s world, Tamriel.

Oblivion features high resolution graphics, including high-dynamic range lighting and highly detailed characters. In addition the game has open-ended game play where can interact, rob and help other characters to their hearts content. A complex AI system dubbed "Radiant AI" by Bethesda, controls when, where and how non-player characters perform actions like sleeping, talking and even stealing.

Even though the game does not offer multiplayer or online modes, gamers have been purchasing Oblivion in droves. In addition, the graphics and gameplay apparently have even lured some die-hard World of Warcraft players to cancel their subscriptions, as suggested by numerous posts on Blizzard Entertainment’s WoW forums.