The subreddit for The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim lit up when players of the PC version of the game posted some very unusual screenshots of the moon.
Skyrim's modding community has maintained a strong presence over the many years the PC release has existed, due to the popularity of the title and the creativity of the modders. One of the simplest mod types that can have an immediate impact is texture-swapping something in the skybox, as it can then be seen from most aboveground locations in the game's world.
The posts, which have accumulated several thousand upvotes each in less than 24 hours, both show the same Skyrim scene where the player converses with the Nord Werewolf character Sinding, with one key difference. The scene shows Sinding standing on a rock outcropping while the moon, replaced with the Star Wars Death Star casts a menacing red light across the land. Another user commented about and later posted a screenshot of the exact same scene, except with the Death Star itself replaced with Todd Howard, director of the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series and originator of the infamous "It just works" quote.
The relative brightness of the moon against the stars combined with its inherent visibility above the world makes it an ideal candidate for a texture swap. The iconic Star Wars Death Star seen in the shot may not have the power to destroy Nirn, but it does indeed look striking with the red filtering from the clouds. Todd Howard's disembodied head, meanwhile, looks less like a moon and more like a projection on the sky, as if Todd is being summoned Batman-style. Either way, the mods are sure to make every night in Tamriel memorable.
Simple texture swaps can go a long way in adding to the enjoyability of a game, whether the swap attempts to tie the game in with another universe or is simply meant to look ridiculous. The moon has proven to be a popular target for texture swaps, but it is far from the only one. Also known for being replaced with ridiculous universal contrasts are dragons, which have been replaced with jet planes, Thomas The Tank Engine and more strange, uncanny objects.
Skyrim is fast approaching its tenth anniversary, and a dedicated playerbase still remains to see how many more easter eggs and references exist in the world. The sprawling locale still leaves room for more modding potential, and the in-development sequel has a long-lasting, rich legacy to live up to.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available to play now on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.