Here’s the rundown on physical copies and the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade
Skyrimiscoming back! (Did it ever really leave?) A week out from the launch ofThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition, Bethesda hasshared detailsabout the pricing and upgrade path for this new version. If you don’t ownSkyrim Special Edition, you’re outta luck.
As confirmed by Bethesda today,Skyrim Anniversary Editionwillcost $50when it launches digitally on November 11 — unless you ownSkyrim Special Edition, in which case you canpay $20 to upgrade. Were you expecting something else for the “most comprehensive edition” yet of this (decade-old) game?Skyrimcan and will get away with it.
There’s going to be aphysical version, too.Skyrim Anniversary Editionwill have physical copies on PS4 and Xbox One, but that’s it for Bethesda’s current plans, at least.
If you’re wondering where PS5 and Xbox Series X/S fit into the picture, you’ll get “enhanced graphics” and “faster loading” on those platforms, and you won’t need to pay anything extra if you ownSkyrim Anniversary EditionorSkyrim Special Editionon PS4 or Xbox One. In other words, the “next-gen upgrade” is free, which might be all you really want. One more wrinkle: Xbox achievements carry over across versions, but PS4 and PS5 trophies will be separate — a caveat PS5 owners should be very familiar with.
As for what’s included inSkyrim Anniversary Edition, the main benefit is extra quests, weapons, and armor sets from new Creation Club content that’s packed in.As outlined here, there are nods toMorrowindin “Ghosts of the Tribunal” andOblivionin “The Cause.”
Notably, there’ssome new stuffeven if you’re sticking withSkyrim Special Edition. On November 11, you’ll gain access to Survival Mode (with a temperature mechanic), fishing (including a home aquarium),Saints & Seducers(a storyline with The Shivering Isles), and Rare Curious (“goods imported from all over Tamriel to Skyrim’s Khajiit Caravans”).
There are concerns about modded PC versions ofSkyrimnot fully workingas expected onceSkyrim Anniversary Editionis released, so even if you’re opting out of this latest version of the game, you may want to watch out — some of your mods might break, and they won’t all necessarily be fixed by their original creators. It’s a whole thing.
I’m curious to seehow many other editionsof this unstoppable game Bethesda might will into existence in the future, and what names the company might land on. Imagine all the off-planet old folks tearing intoSkyrim: Game of the CenturyEditionto relive their youth.
