Skyrim update 1.20 makes way for Anniversary Edition

skyrim anniversary update header

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim update 1.20 has been released, making way for the newly launched Anniversary Edition.

Bethesda has yet to release official patch notes for Skyrim update 1.20, though it likely includes some minor improvements and bug fixes while also unlocking free creation club content for those currently playing Skyrim Special Edition.

What’s the difference between these two versions of the game? Skyrim Special Edition launched 5 years ago, including the base game as well as the Heartfire, Dawnguard, and Dragonborn DLC expansions. Bethesda is now giving away four major content packs including: Saints & Seducers, Rare Curios, Survival Mode, and Fishing. Together, these add plenty of new items and features to the core game. For more details on what these pack bring to the Skyrim experience, here’s a pretty handy blog.

Meanwhile Skyrim Anniversary Edition has only just launched. Celebrating 10 years of frosty open world RPG antics, Bethesda has released Skyrim yet again for PC and consoles. Grabbing a copy of Anniversary – or upgrading from Special – will net you every piece of creation club content with more than 500 bits of DLC to scour through. Those on Xbox One or PS4 can also upgrade to Xbox Series X|S and PS5 respectively, for free:

Owners of Skyrim Special Edition or the Anniversary Edition on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will receive a next-generation upgrade for the game. The upgrade will be free and optimize the game with enhanced graphics, faster loading times and more.

As Skyrim turns 10 years old, it leaves behind quite a legacy. We can sit here and joke about the various ports and re-releases we’ve seen over the years but, in truth, this is testament to the enduring influence this mighty action RPG has had. From a slew of indie studios and AAA developers, all the way up to Nintendo, many have tried to capture that same essence – that feeling of wonder when the tutorial stabilisers fall away and you’re free to explore a vast living world.

Since Skyrim, there has been The Elder Scrolls Online, Blades, and the announcement of The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda now being a Microsoft studio. Needless to say, a lot has changed, but we’re still excited to see where this landmark series will take us next.

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Senior Editor bursting with lukewarm takes and useless gaming trivia. May as well surgically attach my DualSense at this point.