What is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition?

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a 2016 remastered re-release of the open‑world RPG from Bethesda Game Studios. It updates Skyrim’s visuals with remastered art and effects, including volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, and screen-space reflections, and it released for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 27, 2016. It includes the core game plus the three official add-ons—Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn—so players get the full Skyrim experience on modern platforms. For PC and consoles, this edition also introduced broader mod and content support through Bethesda.net, while keeping the original quest structure and world intact. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition on Steam (store.steampowered.com)

The Anniversary Edition, released November 11, 2021, builds on Skyrim Special Edition by packaging in Creation Club content released up to that date (hundreds of items, quests, dungeons, weapons and more). It’s described by major outlets and platforms as a comprehensive edition that bundles the Special Edition with 500+ Creation Club items; the release was announced by Bethesda and covered by outlets like PlayStation Blog and PCWorld. Note that Creation Club content has since evolved into the Creations system. The Anniversary Edition on Steam (blog.playstation.com)