Bethesda Softworks sends word that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition has been shipped to stores and will be for sale starting on Tuesday. Oblivion GotY includes the original version of Oblivion, along with the official expansion, The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles, and the downloadable content, Knights of the Nine

Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, announced today that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (GotY) for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows has begun shipping to retail stores throughout North America and will be in stores as early as Tuesday, September 11. Oblivion GotY includes the original version of the award-winning RPG, Oblivion, along with the official expansion, The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles™, and the downloadable content, Knights of the Nine™.

This new product allows players who have never played the 2006 Game of the Year to experience Oblivion along with additional content. Gamers can also continue their existing games of Oblivion and experience the new quests and areas offered by the expansion and downloadable content.

Released in March 2006 for Windows and Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and in March 2007 for the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Oblivion has already earned countless awards from publications around the world and won numerous Game of the Year and RPG of the Year awards. It has also recently achieved the status of both Xbox 360 Platinum Hit (North America) and Xbox 360 Classic (Europe). The Xbox 360 Platinum Hits and Classics programs allow existing gamers and new gamers alike to have access to great games at an amazing price.

Oblivion features a powerful combination of free-form gameplay, unprecedented graphics, cutting edge AI, character voices by acting legends Patrick Stewart, Sean Bean, Terrance Stamp, and Lynda Carter, and an award-winning soundtrack. Gamers can choose to unravel Oblivion’s epic narrative at their own pace or explore the vast world in search of their own unique challenges.

With more than 30 hours of new gameplay, Shivering Isles allows you to explore an entirely new plane of Oblivion – the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. Shivering Isles features a bizarre landscape split between the two sides – Mania and Dementia –filled with vast, twisting dungeons mirroring the roots of the trees they are buried within. Sheogorath himself looks to you to be his champion and defend his realm and its inhabitants from destruction as you discover all new items, ingredients, spells, and much more.

Knights of the Nine features an all-new faction and quests for noble characters and answers many of the questions surrounding the Ayleid ruins found throughout Oblivion. Players can join a new faction and found their own order of holy knights – leading them into battle against a sorcerer-king and his demonic minions while exploring massive dungeons and searching for legendary relics – the holy armor and weapons of the Divine Crusader.

Oblivion GotY will be available for PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system from SCEA next month. In October, Bethesda Softworks will also ship Shivering Isles for Xbox 360 at retail as a standalone expansion. For more information on Oblivion, Shivering Isles, or The Elder Scrolls, visit www.elderscrolls.com.