Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAnniversary Edition is the better buy for most people who want the largest official content bundle. Special Edition is the better choice if you want the remastered base game and the three major official expansions without the wider Creation Club package, or if you already own it and the upgrade price does not justify the difference. There is no single winner, because the two editions differ mainly in how much official content they include and what each costs at your store.
Choosing by buyer type
| Your priority | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The widest official content bundle | Anniversary Edition | Bethesda describes it as Special Edition plus Creation Club content. Confirm the exact contents on your platform’s listing. |
| The remastered game and the three main add-ons, with no extra Creations | Special Edition | It bundles remastered graphics with Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. |
| Already own Special Edition | Compare the Anniversary Upgrade with the full Anniversary Edition price | An upgrade route exists for Special Edition owners. The current local price determines whether it is worth it. |
| Buying a physical disc on PS4 or Xbox One | Check the listing before buying | Bethesda’s November 5, 2021 FAQ said launch-era physical Anniversary copies on these consoles needed an internet connection to download the included Creation Club content. |
What Special Edition includes
Special Edition is the remastered baseline. Bethesda’s September 13, 2016 article on the edition describes remastered graphics and bundles the Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn add-ons into one package. Bethesda also describes the PC release as 64-bit. If those three expansions and an updated visual presentation are what you want, Special Edition covers that core need on its own.
What Anniversary Edition adds
Anniversary Edition is built on Special Edition and adds Creation Club content. Bethesda’s current product page describes the package as containing over 500 pieces of content. Bethesda Support gives a more specific breakdown: 74 Creations that together showcase over 500 individual elements. These are different units. Not every element is a separate Creation, so avoid translating either figure into a simple item count.
The practical question is whether those Creations matter to you. If you mainly play the base game and the three main add-ons, the extra content may not change your experience. If you return to Skyrim for new locations, items, and quests, the bundle is the reason to pick Anniversary Edition.
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#1 Best Overall
- EPIC FANTASY REBORN - Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
- LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLD - Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.
- YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAY - Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.
- BATTLE DRAGONS - Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
- INCLUDED CONTENT - The Anniversary Edition includes the core game, pre-existing and new Creation Club content, plus all three official add-ons: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.
Prices: what is established and what is not
The only price figures Bethesda has published in the sources reviewed for this article are launch-era prices from its November 5, 2021 FAQ: USD $49.99 for Anniversary Edition and USD $19.99 for the Anniversary Upgrade, which Special Edition owners can buy. Bethesda also listed launch prices in EUR, GBP, AUD, and RUB, and noted that prices and availability vary by region and platform. These are historical figures. They do not show what either edition costs today.
Check the current store page for your platform and region before deciding. Compare the full Anniversary Edition price with the Anniversary Upgrade price if you already own Special Edition. Upgrading is worth it only if the Creations you would receive are worth more to you than the difference.
Platforms and formats
Bethesda’s current Anniversary Edition page lists PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and notes that Switch 2 support launched on December 9, 2025. Do not assume every platform has identical content or a matching release date. Verify the listing for the exact system you are buying for.
Physical copies are not necessarily complete on disc. The 2021 FAQ said PS4 and Xbox One physical Anniversary copies required an internet connection to redeem and download the included Creation Club content. That statement describes those launch-era editions. For any other platform or any newer release, read the product listing for download requirements.
Rank #3
- Box contains a disc
- Persistent broadband internet connection required for use of online functionality and downloads of updates
Mods and the 2026 Special Edition update
Bethesda’s current Anniversary Edition page reports that a Special Edition update dated August 20, 2026 increased console mod storage limits and brought improvements and fixes to Creations. Because this is a change to the Special Edition update, it is relevant to both editions on console. The page does not establish that either edition is better for modding overall, so judge modding support on your own platform and game version.
Checklist before you buy
- Check whether you already own Special Edition. If you do, compare the Anniversary Upgrade price with the full edition price at your store.
- Decide whether you will use the Creation Club content. If not, Special Edition is enough.
- Confirm your platform’s listing, including whether Switch 2 is offered there.
- For a physical PS4 or Xbox One copy, confirm that you have an internet connection for the content download.
- Check the current price and region on the store page, because the only published Anniversary prices are 2021 launch prices.
Bottom line on the choice
Anniversary Edition is the stronger package if you want all the official content and are paying today’s price for it. Special Edition is the stronger buy if you want the remastered game and three major add-ons and do not need the Creations. Owners of Special Edition should decide based on the upgrade price at their store.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
![The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Anniversary Edition) - [PlayStation 4] | kostenloses Upgrade auf PlayStation 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51WubchYsEL._SL160_.jpg)
- Die Skyrim Anniversary Edition umfasst die Skyrim Special Edition sowie 74 Creations (darunter 26 brandneue) mit über 500 einzigartigen Inhalten aus dem Creation Club, darunter Quests, Behausungen und mehr
- Die Anniversary Edition enthält das Spiel mit allen drei Erweiterungen und liebevoll überarbeiteten Grafiken und Effekten
- Die Erweiterungen umfassen Dawnguard, Heathfire und Dragonborn
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
