Bethesda is launching a remastered version of Skyrim at the end of this month. A remaster is something we rarely see with a relatively new PC game – which is why many people are confused about how it’s going to work.
To clear up your confusion, here are 5 fast facts you need to know about the remastered “Special Edition” version of Skyrim.
It Requires a More Powerful System than the Original – But Not as Powerful as People Expected
Bethesda recently revealed exactly what it takes to run its Special Edition on PC. Many people are surprised by how low the tech specs are – even the “Recommended” tech specs feature graphics card that are several generations old. Nevertheless, the tech specs are both higher than the original Skyrim:
Minimum
CPU: Intel Core i7-750 or AMD Phenom II X4-945
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 470 or AMD Radeon HD 7870
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows 7 64-bit or Higher
Storage: 12GB
Recommended
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 nor AMD FX-8320
GPU: NVidia GeForce GTX 780 or AMD Radeon R9 290
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows 7 64-bit or Higher
Storage: 12GB
It Supports 64 Bit Processing
The original Skyrim did not support 64 bit processing, which means it didn’t matter that you had more than 4GB of RAM, because the game couldn’t use it anyway.
The remastered Special Edition, however, will support using more than 4GB of RAM.
Mods and Save Files Work in the Special Edition
One of the best parts about the remastered version is that users can play their old save files and mods in the Special Edition with no issues or changes required.
What’s Actually New
If mods and save files work in the Special Edition, then you’re probably wondering which part of the game is actually new.
The new Special Edition includes “updated assets” bundled with a variety of visual upgrades. Specific improvements include dynamic depth of field, “god rays”, screen space reflections, and snow shaders.
It’s Free for Many Skyrim Players
One of the best parts about the Skyrim Special Edition is that it’s free! At least, it’s free for Skyrim users on Steam who already own the original game along with all three DLCs (Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn) or those who bought the master bundle (Skyrim Legendary Edition) that contained all of those items.
If you don’t own Skyrim, then the remastered version will sell for $60 (although you can buy the Skyrim Legendary Edition right now for $40, so it’s obviously smarter to buy that edition).
Release Date is October 28 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4
Ultimately, this release will matter more to PS4 and Xbox One users, as Skyrim has never been released on those consoles. PC users, on the other hand, have been installing improved textures and shaders since the game released.
However, it’s nice to see that most PC gamers will get the game for free (or you only have to buy 1 or 3 DLCs to get it for free).
