Skyrim Remastered Edition Release Date

Although we're still struggling with a solid Switch Skyrim release date, the thought of being able to explore the game's massive open world on the go is blowing our tiny minds. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the biggest RPGs of the last decade both in terms of scale and popularity.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a remastered version of Skyrim released in October 2016 and only available on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.Special Edition is 64-bit and built on an updated version of the Creation Engine that Bethesda Game Studios used for Fallout 4. The Elder Scrolls 6: release date, news and rumors. The remastered version of Skyrim showed just how far things have come visually since the game's first release so we fully expect any title.

When the game appeared in the first trailer for the Switch – albeit fleetingly and unconfirmed – the gaming world gasped collectively. Not only was it a surprise that the Switch would be able to run a game like Skyrim, but the fact it's a massive third party title means Nintendo is on the right track to fix some of the major issues it had with the Wii U.

Although the Wii U had a few third-party titles to its name, publishers quickly stopped supporting the platform due to game development and porting issues. The Wii U wasn't exactly easy to make games for – unless you were Nintendo.

But the Nintendo Switch has already proven to be a very different console to its predecessor and along with Skyrim, we're also looking at other major third-party releases on the console from FIFA and Minecraft to indie games like Stardew Valley and Terraria. The list is only growing.

But, ahead of the official release, what do we actually know about Skyrim on Switch? We're rounding up all the latest news and information about the game right here, so you can keep up to date.

What do we know so far about Skyrim on Switch?

Bethesda is actually keeping quite tight-lipped when it comes to details on the Skyrim Switch port. Although the game was teased in the first ever Switch trailer, Bethesda Game Studios' Executive Producer and Game Director Todd Howard came forward in the Nintendo Direct dedicated to the Switch ahead of the release to confirm everyone's suspicions.

'We're excited to announce that, yes, Skyrim is coming to the Nintendo Switch,' said Howard at the time. 'We love to make games and worlds that you can get lost in, that you can make your own and that you never want to put down. Well, now you don't have to. Now you can play Skyrim wherever you want and take it on your own adventures.'

It's actually the first time that a Bethesda Game Studios title has appeared on a Nintendo console… ever. And it's the publisher's first major collobration with Nintendo since Where's Waldo and Home Alone on the NES back in the early nineties.

'But what's really exciting, for all of us at Bethesda, is to finally work with Nintendo. You look at all they've done for video games over the decades. They've brought so much innovation and fun to all of us and they're doing it again. The Switch is classically Nintendo but also all new and we want to thank them for letting us be a part of it.'

When will we be able to play it?

But of course, in that moment Howard forgot to mention any kind of Skyrim Switch release date, leaving anyone looking for some dragon action on their shiny new console in the lurch.

Thankfully, Nintendo has our backs. On both the UK and US Nintendo store, The Elder Scrolls v: Skyrim is listed with a fall/autumn 2017 release date for the Switch. Phew, at least it's definitely coming this year.

A more precise launch window than that isn't currently available, but we imagine Bethesda may drop some more details at its big showcase at E3 2017 in June.

What version of Skyrim is the Switch getting?

Although Skyrim first launched back in 2011, Bethesda actually released an Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition in October 2016. Released on Xbox One and PS4, the Skyrim Special Edition was the original version of the fantasy RPG title but remastered in full HD. It also brought support for PC mods to PS4 and Xbox One too and included all previously released DLC for the game.

The question is now whether it'll be the original Skyrim ported to the Switch or this newer, better looking Special Edition version. Obviously, we're all hoping that its the latter, because we want all the stuff and the snazzier graphics. But, at the moment Bethesda isn't letting on what version it'll be.

In an interview with Polygon, Todd Howard wouldn't be drawn on the topic, instead saying that he 'can't say' whether the original Skyrim or the 2016 remaster would be released on Switch. Although, it's not looking likely that it's the remaster at this point. On all the Nintendo websites and other retailers, the title is merely listed as Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim without the Special Edition appendage.

Even in the Skyrim Switch site meta tags there's no reference to this being the Special Edition and there's no mention of the Special Edition trademark either. That means we're probably most likely looking at a special port of the original 2011 Skyrim game.

Of course, it could well be that it's neither of these existing versions. The Switch may get its very own version that comes with all the DLC but without the mod support. The Switch's TV mode may well support the full 1080p HD resolution, but of course, tablet mode is limited to 720p HD.

What about Elder Scrolls 6?

With all this talk regarding the Skyrim Switch edition, there's bound to be a bit of chatter on Elder Scrolls 6. If Skyrim is coming to the Switch, that may well mean that the next series entry – if it ever arrives – could well he heading to the Switch too.

Bethesda, as you'd expect, hasn't given us even a little tease of Elder Scrolls 6 yet, but with the E3 2017 press conference looming, there's plenty of time for some surprises.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a remastered version of Skyrim released in October 2016 and only available on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Special Edition is 64-bit and built on an updated version of the Creation Engine that Bethesda Game Studios used for Fallout 4. The remastered game features high-resolution textures, upgraded graphic effects including new shaders and volumetric god rays, and dynamic field-depth. Skyrim VR is a version based on Special Edition but only supports virtual reality headsets.

Special Edition includes all three official add-ons, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. An in-game mod browser is introduced, allowing players to download approved mods from Bethesda.net. This support is extended to players of the console versions for the first time in the series, although PS4 players cannot use mods with custom-made assets. The Creation Club offers paid official add-on content exclusive to the Special Edition.

Special Edition has all the original Patches installed, and there is ongoing patch support with the Special Edition Patch. For updated system requirements, see the official specifications.

• 1Differences from Classic Skyrim
• 2Bug Fixes
• 3Compatibility with Classic Skyrim

Differences from Classic Skyrim[edit]

Skyrim Remastered Edition Release Date

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a remastered version of Skyrim released in October 2016 and only available on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Special Edition is 64-bit and built on an updated version of the Creation Engine that Bethesda Game Studios used for Fallout 4. The remastered game features high-resolution textures, upgraded graphic effects including new shaders and volumetric god rays, and dynamic field-depth. Skyrim VR is a version based on Special Edition but only supports virtual reality headsets.

Special Edition includes all three official add-ons, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. An in-game mod browser is introduced, allowing players to download approved mods from Bethesda.net. This support is extended to players of the console versions for the first time in the series, although PS4 players cannot use mods with custom-made assets. The Creation Club offers paid official add-on content exclusive to the Special Edition.

Special Edition has all the original Patches installed, and there is ongoing patch support with the Special Edition Patch. For updated system requirements, see the official specifications.

• 1Differences from Classic Skyrim
• 2Bug Fixes
• 3Compatibility with Classic Skyrim

Differences from Classic Skyrim[edit]

Skyrim Remastered Edition Release Date

Gameplay[edit]

• Saved games are now categorized for each character and grouped and displayed separately on the main menu.
  • Saving the game in a cell that has an underscore in its EditorID will cause saved games to not be categorized correctly. No such cells are present by default, but may be added by mods.
• Pressing the Esc key on PC now always opens the Journal instead of the System menu, even if this button is not configured to do so.
• Torturer's Hoods are now marked as playable and can be obtained as loot from the Torturer and generic Thief NPCs. They could not be obtained or used in the original release.
• Reverting from Beast Form will automatically reequip the items you were wearing before transformation. In the original release, your character would always be naked after reverting.
• You can no longer see whether you are far away or not from your next skill point on the Vampire Lord skills screen and on the Werewolf skill screen.
• When being arrested and paying a bounty in Winterhold stolen items are now confiscated, though they end up in the evidence chest in Dawnstar.
• Sprinting is now a toggle instead of holding the key
• Vampire attacks on settlements, a feature introduced with Dawnguard, have been permanently disabled.
• Achievements and trophies are tracked separately for Special Edition and do not carry over from the original game.
  • Achievements and trophies are disabled when the Special Edition is loaded with mods on both PC and console. However, the use of console commands does not disable them. Mods had no effect on achievement progress on the original release.
• Steam trading card support has been removed.
• Kinect Command support has been removed. Although this feature was present on Xbox 360, it has not been carried over to Xbox One.
• Certain locations such as the Ancestor Glade contain far more harvestable plants.
• Many new spawn points have been added where rabbits may appear. These rabbits will be replaced by hostile Bonewolves^CC or Zombies^CC if you have either the Bone Wolf or Plague of the Dead Creations installed, respectively.

Engine[edit]

• Skyrim Special Edition is 64-bit and has been updated to use DirectX 11, giving superior stability and performance compared to the original release. The game can utilize more than 4GB of memory without need for modifications.
• Havok physics and animations have been updated to 64-bit and use a different format to the original release
• Meshes use a different format to the original release
• Special Edition has a native option for borderless windowed mode in launcher settings.
• The game can support vastly more actors on-screen than the original release.
• Alt-Tab performs smoothly with the game and does not cause the visual issues that could occur in the original release.
• Loading screens are now 60 FPS.
• New engine and scripting functionality has been introduced to accommodate Creation Club content.
• A message of the day appears on the main menu advertising Creation Club content (introduced in Patch 1.5).

Graphics[edit]

• Volumetric god-rays have been added
• Screen space ambient occlusion (SSAO) is now supported.
• Rain and snow occlusion is now supported, and is an optional visual setting.
• Flow-based water shaders have been added and enabled for all bodies of water.
• Temporal anti-aliasing support (TSAA) has been added as an alternative visual option to Fast Approximate Anti-Aliasing (FXAA).
• Shadows now display in full resolution, no longer appear blocky or striped, and move smoothly instead of in increments.
• Trees and flora are in higher-resolution.
• The exterior worldspace features vastly more detail, e.g. extra grass, rocks and flora.
• Character generation now morphs between face archetypes instead of abruptly changing.
• A subtle sun flare effect has been added to light sources.
• Special Edition has warmer and more colorful visuals compared to the original release.

Audio[edit]

* Audio is severely compressed and consequently much lower quality than in the original release. This has been quickly fixed in the first update patch for Skyrim: Special Edition. Audio quality is now the same as in the original release.

Mods[edit]

• Special Edition introduces an in-game mod browser via Bethesda.net. The mod menu, displaying load order and allowing mods to be enabled or disabled, is now accessed from an in-game menu. The launcher mod menu has been removed.
  • Mods can be enabled and disabled at any time in-game, though the game will immediately reload all assets.
  • Console version players may download approved mods for the first time, though they must have an account at Bethesda.net.
    • PS4 support is limited and only allows the use of mods utilizing assets already included within the game. Custom assets are not permitted.
    • Xbox One users are limited to using up to 5GB of mods.
• Steam Workshop support has been removed in favor of using Bethesda.net.
• Creation Kit has been updated to 64-bit. The original Creation Kit is not compatible with Special Edition.
• Special Edition ESM and ESP plugins use a slightly different format to the original release. Plugins for the original release need to be updated in Creation Kit 64-bit to work correctly with Special Edition, and assets and archives must be updated to the new formats.
• The ESL format has been introduced for Special Edition with Patch 1.5. It is primarily used for Creation Club content, but can be used for custom mods as well. ESL files do not count towards the 255 plugin limit but do have other limitations.
• A lot of Creation Club content is implemented into the base game at some level, enabling modders to take advantage of certain new scripts and assets. An example of this is the root tunnel tileset from Saints & Seducers, which was added to the base game as a modder's resource.
  • As a result of this, some Creation Club-exclusive items can be obtained via console commands without actually owning or installing the relevant Creation. Examples of this are Rot Scale, Screaming Maw, and Thorn Hook.

Bug Fixes[edit]

Several issues from the original release of Skyrim and Dawnguard have been fixed for Special Edition.

Skyrim[edit]

• Fires no longer display a thin black line around them (issue originally introduced with Classic Patch 1.6).
• NPC lip movement is no longer desynchronized with their dialogue.
• Z-fighting issues on mountains in Whiterun Hold have been resolved.
• The Glass Helmet of Resurgence is now properly named and no longer mistakenly called 'Glass Armor of Resurgence'.
• 21 trees and shrubs have had their 3D positions corrected.
• Some textures that had visual issues have been fixed.

Dawnguard[edit]

• The boats at Icewater Jetty no longer overlap.
• Dawnguard.esm no longer strips A Daedra's Best Friend quest of most of its script properties.
• Wolf howl sounds can be heard again (fixed in Patch 1.5.39.)

Creation Kit 64-bit[edit]

• Argonians are now properly displayed in the Creation Kit instead of appearing as disembodied tongues and eyes.

Compatibility with Classic Skyrim[edit]

Save files[edit]

PC players can use unmodified save files from the original game by copying or moving the save file from the Skyrim user folder to the Skyrim Special Edition user folder. Some modded save games may function on Special Edition if all of its mod dependencies are present. If a 'This save relies on content that is no longer present' warning is displayed when loading a modded save from Skyrim on Special Edition, then that save must not be used at all and may crash the game upon attempting to load.

Characters from ported save files will not be displayed separately on the main load menu. This can be fixed by opening the console, typing the command showracemenu and then immediately saving changes.

Save files from Special Edition cannot be used at all in the classic version of the game.

Mods[edit]

Achievements are disabled when using mods. A warning will be displayed when loading a save with ESP plugins enabled, and future save files will be prefixed with [M] to denote it as a modded save file.

Skyrim Remastered Edition Release Date 2021

ESP and ESM files for Special Edition are not compatible with the original release. The game will not launch if a Special Edition plugin or BSA archive is in the Data folder. ESL files are ignored by the classic version of the game as it does not support the format.

Mods for the original release must be updated to function correctly on Special Edition, otherwise they may crash the game. Mods that edit exterior cells with water in them will also need to include additional water flow information to support the new shaders, otherwise water will not be displayed correctly.

Notes[edit]

• The add-ons Fall of the Space Core, Vol 1 and High Resolution Texture Pack are not officially available for Special Edition as Bethesda has not ported them.
  • The High Resolution Texture Pack is obsolete as the game comes packaged with higher-quality textures by default.
• Flow-based water shaders and screen space ambient occlusion were originally developed as part of the Game Jam.

Bugs[edit]

• Creep Clusters are misaligned when grown in a plot of Fertile Soil, making it very difficult to harvest them. See this page for tips.

See Also[edit]

• Skyrim VR — a virtual reality version of the Special Edition

Skyrim Remastered Edition Release Dates