Bethesda announced Skyrim Anniversary Edition just a few months ago, but the upgraded version of the RPG is now available on all major platforms. Packing in a ton of content from the Creation Club and some technical improvements on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the release has a decent amount going for it. Unfortunately, the process behind upgrading to Skyrim Anniversary edition is a bit harder than it should be.
To start, it's important to note that the Anniversary Edition upgrade is not free. New owners will have to invest $49.99 to buy the full game plus all of the Creation Club content, though that does effectively bundle all of the content ever officially released for Skyrim into one package, including the three DLC packs Hearthfire, Dawnguard, and Dragonborn. Meanwhile, those that already own Skyrim Special Edition can grab the Anniversary Edition content for $19.99.
How to Upgrade to Anniversary Edition if You Already Own Skyrim
While it would make sense for Bethesda to simply offer an upgrade path to Skyrim Anniversary Edition in the marketplace on PlayStation and Xbox, the reality is that players need to upgrade through Skyrim itself. It's an easy thing to miss, and has undoubtedly been causing some players grief. However, simply load up Skyrim and there will be a prompt on the main menu informing players that they can upgrade. Hit the indicated button, and players can buy the content for $19.99
How to Buy Skyrim Anniversary Edition Without Skyrim
Buying Skyrim Anniversary Edition without owning the base game is a bit more straightforward, as players simply have to buy it like they would any other game. However, it's worth noting that the Skyrim Anniversary Edition is a bit steeply priced without owning the base game, so it might be worth finding a used copy and upgrading from there. The cost versus convenience doesn't align perfectly, but it's an easy way to save a few dollars for the upgrade.
The only other thing of note for those upgrading from the last-gen version to the current-gen version of Skyrim Anniversary Edition is that saves have to be imported between versions. Therefore, it's wise to keep save files around until everything has been transferred between the two. Skyrim Anniversary Edition achievements also don't cross between versions, so players will need to set about earning all of those again too, though it does gave fans more reason to play.
Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.