It has now been over 10 years since the release ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, and it’s fair to say the game is still as relevant now as it was all those years ago. Much of the game’s lasting relevance is down to theElder Scrollscommunity for continuing to play the game and discuss it online, althoughThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimhas also received a number of new versions since. The latest of which,Skyrim Anniversary Edition, has just been released and has gained some attention online.
Gamers are talking aboutSkyrim Special Editionright now for a couple of reasons. The first of which is all the new content it has brought to the game, from fishing toclassicElder Scrollsquestlines. However, gamers have also been talking about the price ofSkyrim Anniversary Edition, remarking that it is quite expensive given that it is a new version of a now 10-year-old game. Its price is a hot topic for debate, though, and fans could really fall on either side.
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What’s in Skyrim Anniversary Edition?
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Editionis the next-gen upgraded version of the original game. TheAnniversary EditiongetsSkyrimto run at 4K 60 frames-per-secondright out of the box for the first time on consoles, without the assistance of mods. This has been a long time coming forThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimfans, who have relied on mods to take theirSkyrimexperience to the next level to this point. While mods aren’t required to getSkyrim Anniversary Editionrunning to its full potential, they do feature heavily in the latest version of the game. Mods have, in fact, been one of the big selling points of the remaster, as 500 Creation Club mods come included within the game, which players would have previously had to pay for individually.
As is the case withSkyrim Special Edition, players who buySkyrim Anniversary Editionwill have access to all of the content available in the base version of the game, including the three DLCs. Hearthfire, Dawnguard, and Dragonborn include 30 hours of content altogether, so they’re worth playing for anySkyrimfans who haven’t at this point. In addition to these DLC packs, though, the Creation Club mods add a bunch of new content to explore, ranging from fishing to weapons and armor to full-on never before seen questlines. What has been particularly exciting forElder Scrollsfans has been theMorrowindandOblivioncontent added toSkyrim Anniversary Edition. These have been a treat for fans of the olderElder Scrollsgames, or fans ofElder Scrollslore in general, and have made the game worth upgrading all by themselves for some players.
Ways to Get Skyrim Anniversary Edition
All of this new content added toSkyrim Anniversary Editiondoes come at a price, though.Skyrim Anniversary Editionbrings a lot of value to the table, in the form of its performance upgrades and new content, so this may not come as a shock toElder Scrollsfans. At launch,the price ofSkyrim Anniversary Editionis $49.99, which puts it below the price range of an average AAA game, which now usually come at closer to $70. This makesSkyrim Anniversary Editiongood value for money for gamers who may have not yet playedThe Elder Scrolls 5, but for longtimeSkyrimfans, such a price for a game they’ve already played may seem steep. The additions in theAnniversary Editiondo add a lot of value, but possibly not $50 worth.
Fortunately, existing fans ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimmay have a way to getSkyrim Anniversary Editionfor cheaper than $49.99. Gamers who already ownSkyrim Special Editionhave the option toupgrade toSkyrim Anniversary Editionfor $19.99 in a similar way to purchasing a DLC. This price may be a lot more appealing to gamers compared to the $49.99 price tag, and for gamers on Xbox or PC who don’t ownSkyrim Special Edition, there is also a way to get in on the deals.
Surprisingly,Skyrim Anniversary Editionisn’t available on Game Pass, much to the disappointment of Xbox and PCSkyrimfans. However, there is a bit of a loophole to getSkyrim Anniversary Editionfor closer to the upgrade price than the full retail price. This is becauseSkyrim Special Editionis still available on Game Pass, and, if claimed, can be upgraded toSkyrim Anniversary Editionfor the $19.99 upgrade price. This is possible despite the player technically not owning the game, but it can be seen as one of the perks of subscribing to Game Pass despiteAnniversary Editionnot appearing on the service.
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Is Skyrim Anniversary Edition Worth the Price?
The price ofSkyrim Anniversary Editionhas raised a fair few eyebrows since its reveal, though players who have been able to get throughSkyrim Anniversary Edition’sblack screen bughave been impressed by the volume of content included in the game. There are all-new player homes to enjoy inSkyrim Anniversary Edition, along with a ton of new weapons and armour. When considering all of this, it makesSkyrim Anniversary Editiona no-brainer at $49.99 for players who may have never playedThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimbefore. The extra content inSkyrim Anniversary Editioncompared toSkyrim Special Editionalong with the performance boosts justifies the price gap.
For long-termSkyrimfans, it’s slightly more difficult to justify spending such a large sum of money. It is worth buyingSkyrim Anniversary Editionfor $49.99 considering the whole package of the game and add ons, but given that many will have playedSkyrimbefore, $49.99 is a lot of money. Fortunately, for these players, the $19.99 upgrade method will likely be an option given the popularity ofSkyrim Special Edition. So, in the case of existingSkyrimplayers, the question likely isn’t whetherSkyrim Anniversary Editionis worth $49.99, but whether it is worth $19.99. Considering all of theadditional content inSkyrim Anniversary Edition, the $19.99 price tag is worth it depending on the needs and wants of the player in question.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Editionis available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series S|X.
