You can't deny the cultural impact The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Released at the end of 2011, just a few years after the great success of Bethesda Game Studios Fallout 3, Skyrim represented the peak of the creative powers of the developer from Maryland.
But as many gamers are well aware, 2011 was far from the last time new copies appeared Skyrim would hit store shelves. In the years following its initial release, Bethesda's high fantasy RPG has been re-released several times, often with additional features or improvements. But make no mistake: these new releases were always still Skyrim at their core. This rampant remake of the original 2011 game ended up serving as the basis for countless jokes at Bethesda's expense as audiences became confused by the laser focus on Skyrimoften seen as at the expense of other projects.
A quick overview of Skyrim's excessive re-releases
Every major release of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
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2011: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
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2013: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Legendary Edition
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2016: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Special Edition
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2017: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim (Switch)
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2018: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim VR
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2021: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Anniversary Edition
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2025: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim (Switch 2)
The above editions Skyrim run the gamut from reasonable to catastrophic. Skyrim: Special Edition and Skyrim: Anniversary Edition are on the reasonable side of the spectrum, as these are remastered editions of the game for the 8th and 9th console generations, respectively. These next-gen versions use newer hardware, come with DLC, and include additional features that weren't in the base game. For example, Annual issue adds a fishing minigame not present in previous (vanilla) versions Skyrim. Features and improvements like these justify the cost of entry, especially for returning players.
Despite being released in the same year that the 8th generation of consoles began in earnest, Skyrim – Legendary Edition not a remaster but a comprehensive base game and DLC pack with a few extra bells and whistles.
So is the 2017 and 2018 Nintendo Switch port Skyrim VR they are uncontroversial: both bring the game to new desired platforms and each recontextualizes Skyrim to experience in a meaningful way. It's clear from the above re-releases that the most problematic is also the most recent – the Switch 2 release Skyrim. Indeed, the December 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 port was widely reported as unacceptably laggy and slow, topping out at 30 FPS, even though the console's far more visually impressive titles hit north of 60 FPS.
Another new version of Skyrim
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2018: Skyrim: Very Special Edition
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2022: The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Special Edition (DRM free)
Two less discussed reissues are worth mentioning Skyrimstarting with version 2022 without DRM. Although this edition of the game is less promoted than the aforementioned launches, it is a testament to Bethesda's consumer-friendly philosophy. It was released specifically for use with the GOG PC launcher, which does not require Digital Rights Management (DRM). That said, unlike the Steam version of the game, this one Skyrim editions do not need to have a verified license, allowing for more true virtual ownership.
The latter unusual Skyrim reissue is 2018 A very special editiona voice-controlled version of the game for use with Amazon Echo (Alexa) devices. The purpose of this “port,” which required no additional purchase for Echo owners, was ostensibly to poke fun at Bethesda's growing reputation for re-releasing Skyrim “for each device.” This is funny, but also quite interesting, because like the infamous “it's a bug, not a feature” slogan, it's an example of Bethesda shading some of its less popular tendencies. By pointing out such absurdities themselves, Bethesda may believe that it will be somewhat protected from the same criticism from outside sources.
Why is Bethesda still releasing Skyrim?
The reason I point out the criticism towards Bethesda is in context SkyrimReissue of the user should be fairly obvious. Bethesda has been relentlessly teased, mocked and chastised for re-launching their RPG from 2011. There are several factors at play here, not the least of which is their continued absence The Elder Scrolls 6. Many fans argue, not without reason, that Bethesda should focus more on the next entry in the series than on retreading the old tracks. Even less charitable views suggest that these new releases are indicative of creative bankruptcy and an unwillingness to let go of the “golden age”.
But the real motivations behind Bethesda's continued publishing Skyrim were quite glaringly illuminated by Todd Howard himself a few years ago. In a 2018 interview with Geoff Keighley, Howard explained the company's approach Skyrim with the elegantly obvious proviso: “If you want us to stop publishing it, stop buying it.” It's hard to get much clearer than that.
Of course, this explanation may not silence every criticism leveled at Bethesda for its aggressive commitment Skyrim IP. First, Howard's comments from 2018 are somewhat undermined by cases like the Switch 2 debacle, which was essentially an inferior version of the original game, at least at launch. Additionally, one could argue that Bethesda is capitalizing on player nostalgia Skyrim with these various special editions that in a sense prey on fans by appealing to their affection. These grumblings are again compounded by the lack of any real information about The Elder Scrolls 6. If Bethesda can deliver on this next entry in the franchise, then maybe SkyrimIn retrospect, fertility won't seem so controversial.
- Released
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November 11, 2011
- ESRB
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M For Adults 17+ due to blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, alcohol use
- Developers
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Bethesda Game Studios
- Publishers
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Bethesda Softworks
