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According to the rumor mill, i.e., unconfirmed Internet sources, a release list email from Bethesda has gone out to select publishing partners confirming that they are working on a PlayStation 3 version of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the smokin' hot the best seller currently only available on Xbox 360 and PC. The PS3 version of game is listed with a tentative launch date of November 6, 2006, which puts it right in the middle of the launch period that Sony has hinted at for the PS3 hardware.

Currently available for Xbox 360 and PC platforms, Oblivion has been breaking all sorts of records, including rank as the fastest selling game released for the 360. NPD results also show that the PC version was the best selling PC title for the month of March.

The title has been a critical favorite, with average review scores averaging around 94% according to gamerankings.com. The overwhelming acclaim and success may explain why Bethesda is pushing forward with a PS3 version, to take advantage of hype while it still swells handsomely, and to bolster sales of the current versions. Besides, PS3 has the potential to become the best selling next generation console--if no balls are dropped, at least--, and ignoring its potentially huge installed base would be unwise.

The release list appears legitimate under some scrutiny as, among other things, it includes titles already known to be in development, though not publicly so. Furthermore, said list also shows a PSP version in the works. How Bethesda could shrink the massive game to such a small format is a big question mark, a series of small side-quests that would complement the main game, potentially utilizing some sort of PS3-PSP inter-connectivity is speculated.

Bethesda has offered no official response to the rumors, but with E3 only 2 weeks away, corroboration/nullification is nigh. Stay tuned.