Novermber 11th, 2021 will mark the 10 year anniversary of what (along with The Witcher 3) is the most successful single player Role-Playing Game of the last decade, in Skyrim.
It will also mark 10 years since we last received an original Elder Scrolls entry (the longest stretch of time without a main entry). But worry not! Bethesda has something very special planned for Skyrim fans!
What is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition?
The Anniversary Edition contains the full game plus all three expansions – Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn – as well all the enhancements found in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition. The Anniversary Edition also contains over 500 unique pieces of Creation Club content, including quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells and more! – Parker Wilhelm, Content Editor, Bethesda
According to Bethesda the game is the same as the Special Edition version released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. This version has received a (PS5/Xbox Series X) boost to 60fps, but the anniversary edition will feature 500 unique pieces of Creation club content.
The new quests and dungeons (featured within this version) are definitely the show stoppers here. The new content should add dozens, if not hundreds, of hours to what already is a never ending experience for Role-Playing gamers.
What We Know and Don’t Know of the Anniversary Edition
We don’t know to what if the Anniversary Edition (to be released only on PC, PlayStation and Xbox…Switch doesn’t get the edition) will feature tangible enhancements to its audio/visual package though Bethesda hints at a “Free Update to an enhanced version” for Special Edition Owners (and Game Pass Subscribers) playing on PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was one of the titles launched on PlayStation consoles before Bethesda’s buyout, it is not surprising that PlayStation owners will have an opportunity to purchase the Anniversary Edition, and to receive the enhanced “update”.
On that end, this is exciting news for the Xbox Series X, and PS5 owners alike, as Skyrim for all of its beauty and 4K at 60fps greatness….remains a ten year old game bound by ten year old tech. I expect improvements in texture work, and greatly hope for improved character and enemy models (though I wouldn’t hold my breath).
It seems that Skyrim Anniversary Edition will go on sale (both online and at the physical retail) on November 11th, but it is unclear how much it will cost (for non Game Pass Subscribers), and how much the upgrade to this edition will cost for Special Edition owners.
Four Times and Counting
I just bought Skyrim Special Edition for Xbox One this week (though I already had the game on Game Pass and on PS4). This marked the 4th time that I purchased the game in physical form, and the fifth time that I purchased the game over the past decade (I have the Switch version digitally).
I will certainly purchase the Anniversary Edition when it is released, as I can’t get enough of Skyrim.
I assume that this – the announcement of an anniversary edition – will ignite some criticism and jokes from fans awaiting The Elder Scrolls VI, as Bethesda has milked Skyrim to no end over the last ten years.
That said, Skyrim is the company’s most important game, and their most (by a wide margin) successful entry in the series. So, I am not surprised to see this happening, and I am actually excited by the ‘Next-Gen’ update.
It is likely that we won’t see ESVI until 2024-2026. Thus, I expect that Skyrim will continue to receive updates and attention from the company until then. As long as Skyrim sells, and it has sold like hot cakes, Bethesda will continue to focus on that particular entry over others that might also deserve updates (Oblivion, Morrowind, etc).
I have, for the longest time, wished to see graphical enhancements on Oblivion, but it seems that (for now) Skyrim remains at the forefront in Bethesda’s near future plans.
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