The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has just turned eleven years old, and a talented fan in the community decided to mark the occasion with a beautifully animated pixel art. Eleven years have gone by, and Skyrim shows no sign of aging out – it remains popular in video game circles, with an ever-thriving mod community, and a fan base that spans generations. For a single player game, this kind of longevity is remarkably rare, and Bethesda's work on the fifth Elder Scrolls game is worthy of praise.
Few players can ever forget the first time they walked into Riverwood, now safe to rest and recoup, and bask in the captivating atmosphere of the Nord countryside. For some this was on November 11th 2011, and for others it came later, but Skyrim had sold over 30 million copies in the past eleven years, establishing an unbreakable legacy as one of the best-selling video games of all time.
Players have each celebrated the anniversary in their own way, and for KillerRabbitMedia it was by making a pixel art animation of the Dragonborn finding shelter on a cold, snowy night in Skyrim. The animation is full of little easter eggs, such as the Dragonborn being clad in their iconic outfit from the trailer – with sword, and shield resting in the snow. The Dragonborn is reading a conjuration tome, and next to them lies a treasure chest found all across Skyrim's countless Dwemer ruins, Nordic tombs, and bandit camps.
This isn't the first Elder Scrolls animation done by KillerRabbitMedia: they have also made wonderful renditions of the Imperial City, the infernal lands of Oblivion, and more. Every single one of these art pieces were received well by the Elder Scrolls community, and the latest one is no exception. The quaint charm and tranquility often found in pixel art lends itself well to Skyrim's atmosphere, and KillerRabbitMedia has done an excellent job in conveying the same tone in their work.
However, this day was supposed to have been more than Skyrim's 11th Anniversary. Had Starfield not been delayed to the first half of 2023, it would have released today – a passing of the torch unlike any other. Though it may be for the best that the game was given the development time it needed, one can't help but wonder if Bethesda is lamenting the missed opportunity. Luckily for players, the Anniversary Edition of Skyrim makes the extra wait easier to handle.
The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.