A The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim next-gen upgrade is on the horizon. The enhanced PS5 and Xbox Series X port, called Anniversary Edition, is due to release this November.
That’s right – ten years after its original release, Skyrim is once again being re-released for new hardware. But, the question is, should you be excited? While many would place Skyrim at the top of their “best games ever” lists, it isn’t without its faults. And the new port needs to make some significant fixes and additions to warrant a $60/£60 price tag.
Skyrim is a legendary game with millions of active players even a whole decade later. The new premium Anniversary Edition will be a must for some PS5 and Xbox Series X owners thanks to the additional community content it promises. But it is also arriving alongside a free next-gen enhanced version of the PS4 and Xbox One’s Skyrim: Special Edition.
To help you decide if the Anniversary Edition is for you, let’s compare the two and run-down all the details.
Skyrim Next-Gen Upgrade Release Date
So, when is the Skyrim next-gen upgrade coming out? Bethesda have confirmed both the Special Edition and Anniversary Edition‘s will arrive on November 11th 2021. That’s exactly ten years since the game’s original release date.
Skyrim Next-Gen: Free Special Edition Upgrade
For current and future owners of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (AKA the PS4 and Xbox One port), an enhanced next-gen update for PS5 and Xbox Series X will be absolutely free.
Bethesda said, “Skyrim Special Edition owners on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S, as well as Xbox Game Pass subscribers on Xbox Series X|S will receive a free upgrade to an enhanced version on November 11 for their respective PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S systems!”
Bethesda didn’t detail what these enhancements will be. But, one would assume they will include graphical and performance upgrades alongside support for the DualSense controller on PS5, amongst other things. Hopefully, there will be fixes for bugs that have plagued the game since launch, too.
The free next-gen enhanced Special Edition will also feature three pieces of Creation Club content: Fishing, Survival Mode, and new quests with Saints and Seducers.
Skyrim Anniversary Edition
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is set to include all the same next-gen enhancements for PS5 and Xbox Series X as Special Edition, but with an additional 74 Creation Club creations. They will include “500+ individual elements such as quests, items, armor, houses, etc.”
However, while the Special Edition upgrade is free, the Anniversary Edition is not. Bethesda hasn’t given a pricing structure yet. But they have confirmed that Special Edition owners will get the option to purchase an upgrade to the Anniversary Edition. This will likely be in the region of $10-$20, but we don’t know for sure.
As for those looking to buy the Skyrim: Anniversary Edition without already owning Special Edition, we’d expect a full $/£60 price tag given all the bundled Creation Club content.
Update – 31 Oct 2021
Bethesda have revealed that Skyrim Anniversary Edition will also include new quests and items based on Morrowind and Oblivion.
These two new quests are Ghosts of the Tribunal and The Cause. In the former, you can earn over a dozen weapons and armour from Morrowind. And in the latter, players encounter the Mythic Dawn who are trying to open a new Oblivion gate, as well as new enemies, locations and weapons.
Will you be picking up Skyrim on your next-gen console? Let us know in the comment section and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
