Todd Howard Easter Egg Discovered in Oblivion Remastered's Hidden Testing Room

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is packed with secrets, but some of its most intriguing content lies far beyond the bounds of normal gameplay. Among these hidden gems is a secret developer room—accessible only through console commands—where players can encounter an unexpected in-game cameo: a fully-voiced NPC version of Bethesda’s own Todd Howard.

🧪 What Makes This Developer Room Special

While developer or “testing” rooms have long been a staple of Bethesda titles, Oblivion Remastered takes things a step further. Inside this hidden space, players can experiment with core game systems like persuasion and NPC disposition. The standout feature? One of the test NPCs—Alban Corinis—features dialogue recorded by Todd Howard himself during early development.

Unlike typical NPCs, Alban Corinis mixes standard male voice lines with emotional responses directly voiced by Howard. These are the only lines Todd Howard ever recorded for Oblivion, making this room a true Easter egg for diehard fans.

🖥️ How to Access the Secret Testing Room

Unfortunately, this hidden area is only available on PC, as it requires console commands to access:

• To enter the general testing area, use: coc testinghall
• To go straight to the Todd Howard room, use: coc toddtest

This command teleports the player to a secluded chamber containing various testing assets—chests, NPCs, and most notably, Alban Corinis. You'll also find “Todd's Barrel of Fun,” which holds a few odd items and a blank book filled with placeholder text.

🎙️ Meeting Todd Howard in Cyrodiil

Once inside the room, interact with Alban Corinis to hear Todd Howard’s voice. His lines appear specifically during the persuasion mini-game, where emotional responses are key to swaying NPCs. It’s a surreal experience for fans, as Howard's voice isn’t found anywhere else in the game.

Though brief, this encounter adds another quirky highlight to Oblivion Remastered’s charm. Like the game’s famously wild spellcrafting system, this Easter egg helps solidify its identity as one of Bethesda’s most creatively unhinged RPGs.

🧭 A Hidden Gem for Dedicated Adventurers

This Todd Howard Easter egg won’t affect the main story or unlock any game-breaking gear, but it perfectly encapsulates the playful spirit of The Elder Scrolls series. For those exploring Oblivion Remastered on PC, it’s well worth the detour—and a rare chance to hear the studio head literally talk to you in-game.