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- For the original game, see The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
- For the Alexa game, see The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Very Special Edition.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a 2016 remastered version of the 2011 game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the fifth installment of The Elder Scrolls series. It was released for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on October 28th, 2016.[1] It was also later released for the Nintendo Switch on November 17th, 2017.
Steam users who already owned all of the game's DLC or owned the Legendary Edition received a free digital copy of the remaster.[3] Like the Legendary Edition, the Special Edition comes with the three DLCs Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.[4]
Upgrades
Graphical enhancements
Several graphical features of Skyrim were enhanced with the Special Edition, as follows:[5]
- Remastered art and effects
- Volumetric lighting (“God Rays”)
- Dynamic Depth of Field
- Screen-space reflections
- New snow and water shaders
The Special Edition also offers native 4K support for both PC and the PS4 Pro.[6]
Console mods
In September 2016, Bethesda announced that Sony had blocked user-created mods from coming to the PS4 version of the game.[7] However, in October 2016, they stated that Sony had rescinded their block and would allow the usage of player-made mods in the game, and explained the process by which players could create mods on console:[6]
Other improvements
Bethesda employee Matt Grandstaff stated on Twitter that the Special Edition would be 64-bit.[8] The Special Edition is also the first game in the series to offer use of the Creation Club to purchase mods licensed by Bethesda.[9]
Reception
The Special Edition did indeed offer slight graphical improvements over the original game, as demonstrated by PC Gamer.[10] As of October 29th, 2016, the game has a 60% ("Mixed") rating on Steam. Many reviewers stated that the game did not perform well on their systems.[11]
On October 28th, 2016, a post on /r/skyrimmods on reddit indicated that the Special Edition's audio quality was noticeably worse than in the original.[12] Several online gaming journals also cited this post in articles of their own.[13][14] Bethesda has since confirmed that they are looking to fix this issue by the following week.[15]
System requirements
The following are the official system requirements for the Skyrim – Special Edition:[5]
Minimum
- Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version)
- Intel i5-750/AMD Phenom II X4-945.
- 8GB of ram.
- 12 GB free HDD space
- NVIDIA GTX 470 1GB /AMD HD 7870 2GB
Recommended
- Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version)
- Intel i5-2400/AMD FX-8320.
- 8GB of ram.
- 12 GB free HDD space
- NVIDIA GTX 780 3GB /AMD R9 290 4GB
Console storage needs
PS4
- 20 GB (North America)
- 33 GB (Europe)
Xbox One
- 17 GB (North America)
- 25 GB (Europe)
Videos
Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 IGN: Skyrim Special Edition Officially Headed to PS4, Xbox One, PC This Year
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 IGN: Skyrim: Nintendo Switch Edition Release Date Announced
- ↑ Bethesda Game Studios on Twitter
- ↑ Skyrim Special Edition is Free to PC Gamers Who Own All DLC
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Skyrim Special Edition – Gone Gold & System Requirements
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mods and 4K Coming to PlayStation 4 for Skyrim and Fallout 4
- ↑ PS4 Mod Update
- ↑ Matt Grandstaff on Twitter
- ↑ Creation Club official website
- ↑ Skyrim Special Edition settings, comparison shots, and performance
- ↑ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition on Steam
- ↑ The Skyrim Special Edition features a significant audio quality downgrade.
- ↑ Skyrim Special Edition's audio is noticeably worse than the original's
- ↑ Skyrim Special Edition On Xbox One, PC Has Worse Audio Than The Original
- ↑ Matt Grandstaff on Reddit
| Main Series | |
|---|---|
| Arena • Daggerfall • Morrowind (Tribunal | Bloodmoon) • Oblivion • (Knights of the Nine | Shivering Isles) Skyrim (Dawnguard | Hearthfire | Dragonborn | Special Edition | Very Special Edition) • VI | |
| Spin-offs | |
| Battlespire • Redguard • Eye of Argonia • Paradise Sugar Travels (Stormhold | Dawnstar | Shadowkey | Oblivion Mobile | Travels: Oblivion) • Online (DLC | Online: Morrowind | Summerset | Elsweyr) Legends (Expansions) • Blades | |
| Strategy Guides | |
| Arena Manual • Codex Scientia • Daggerfall Manual • The Daggerfall Chronicles Battlespire User's Guide • Battlespire Athenaeum • The Redguard Companion • Morrowind Manual The Morrowind Prophecies • Oblivion Game Guide • Skyrim Game Guide • Hero's Guides to The Elder Scrolls Online | |
| Books | |
| The Origin of Cyrus! • The Infernal City • Lord of Souls • The Art of Skyrim • Tales of Tamriel (The Land | The Lore) The Skyrim Library (The Histories | Man, Mer, and Beast | The Arcane) | |
Start a Discussion Discussions about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
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Console Commands for High Elf Werewolf and Vampire Lord (Skyrim Special Edition)
4 messages-
Ylva Moonfang wrote:Well, if you don't mind modding, there are mods that will allow you to become a werewolf without the Companions. San...
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I did some digging, unsure about setting your race as a High Elf Werewolf or Vampire lord but you can give yourself the beast form sp...
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Skyrim and Skyrim SE: Postpone Dawnguard questline and vampire attacks
5 messages-
Me I stay out of towns and don't warp because going into towns and warping spawns Vampires and the last time I did that I warped i... -
I Mainly Enter Cities/Villages At 8:00, Or 9:00. Mainly Since Those Are Not The Common Spawn Times As Them ; Although There's A R...
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