The short answer is no, you won‘t lose your progress or mods when upgrading to the Anniversary Edition on PC and Xbox. However, PlayStation users will lose trophy progress when upgrading from PS4 to PS5.
Upgrading on PC via Steam or Xbox thanks to Smart Delivery allows your saves, achievements and mods to carry over seamlessly. But PlayStation does not support direct save transfer between PS4 and PS5, meaning you‘ll have to start fresh if upgrading editions across console generations.
Now let‘s take a more detailed look at what the Skyrim Anniversary Edition offers, whether it‘s worth upgrading, and steps to ensure a smooth transition…
What Does The Anniversary Edition Include?
The Skyrim Anniversary Edition bundles together the full base game with all three expansions – Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn. On top of that, you get:
- All previously released Creation Club content – new quests, dungeons, items etc. This includes mini DLCs like Rare Curios, Survival Mode, Fishing and more.
- Over 500 new Creation Club elements like armor sets, houses, mounts, spells and weapons.
- New creations made exclusively for the Anniversary Edition like new questlines, bosses and activities.
In total, there‘s over 500GB of new content, adding dozens of hours of adventures for even seasoned Skyrim veterans.
Here‘s a quick rundown of some of the highlights:
| New Quests | Saints & Seducers, Fishing, Rare Curios, Forgotten Seasons etc. |
| New Dungeons | Hendhraheim, Knife Ear Grotto, Glamoril etc. |
| New Bosses | Alaval, Knife Ear, Valus the Sallow etc. |
| New Gameplay | Survival mode, camping, fishing |
| New Collectibles | Armor sets, weapons, houses, spells |
Should You Upgrade to the Anniversary Edition?
Here are some key factors to consider when deciding whether to upgrade:
For new players – This is the definitive edition to get with all DLCs and extra content included. Go for it!
For returning players – If you‘ve been away from Skyrim for a while, the nostalgia trip and fresh content make it tempting.
For modders – Review mods for compatibility and prepare for some tweaking. But new content adds many more gameplay options.
For veterans – Long-time players may find the upgrade cost high for content they may have already via mods. See if it goes on sale.
For achievement hunters – No new achievements are added. And PS4/PS5 won‘t carry over existing trophies when upgrading.
So unless you‘re looking to replay Skyrim from scratch on PS5, the Anniversary Edition provides solid value for the amount of new adventures it offers.
Will Your Progress Carry Over?
As mentioned earlier, you‘ll retain all your saves, achievements and mods when upgrading on:
- PC – Via Steam, all your data and mods will carry over seamlessly.
- Xbox – Thanks to Smart Delivery, your saves and achievements will transfer between Xbox One and Series X/S.
However, on PlayStation:
- PS4 to PS5 – Unfortunately progress and trophies DO NOT carry over when upgrading editions across Sony consoles.
Before upgrading, back up your PS4 save files manually via cloud storage or on a USB drive. After upgrading on PS5, you can transfer these saves back.
But your trophy progress will be reset, so upgrading on PS4 vs PS5 is more about improved graphics and performance than retaining progress.
What About Mods? Will They Break?
The vast majority of gameplay mods, quest mods, follower mods, etc will work fine with the Anniversary Edition after some quick checks.
However, mods dependent on the Script Extender (SKSE) will need an update to be compatible. Check the mod page or description to see if an Anniversary Edition version is available. If not, you may want to avoid upgrading until your essential mods are ready.
Here are some tips to preserve your mods when upgrading:
- Disable all mods before installing the Anniversary Edition update. This prevents accidents.
- Clean up old mods that you aren‘t using anymore to avoid potential issues down the line.
- Enable mods in small batches and check for stability and conflicts. Address any issues before enabling more mods.
- Prioritize engine fixes and essentials like the Unofficial Patch, UI mods, bug fixes etc before other mods.
- Review load order to catch any potential inconsistencies after upgrading. Adjust accordingly.
As long as you take precautions, your modded Skyrim build should survive the upgrade mostly intact!
Reviews and Opinions on the Anniversary Edition
Based on critic reviews and long-time fan opinions, the reception to Skyrim Anniversary Edition seems largely positive, albeit with some caveats.
The visual enhancements, optimizations and ridiculous amount of new content have been praised. Reviewers have called it the definitive edition of Skyrim and a nostalgic treat for fans.
However, the high $50 asking price for what is essentially a 11-year old game has come under some criticism – especially for longtime fans who already own the Special Edition. Many suggest waiting for a deeper sale before upgrading.
Fans on Reddit have voiced mixed opinions – some feel the upgrade is unnecessary with mods providing similar content. Others feel the new content breaths fresh life into a aging but legendary game, and is worth experiencing.
Overall, the Anniversary Edition is a quality bundle for first-time players, and tempting nostalgia trip for returning Dragonborns. While not essential, it offers good value provided you get it at a discounted price.
Final Verdict – Worth Upgrading For Most Players
The Skyrim Anniversary Edition bundles a decade‘s worth of content to create the ultimate Skyrim experience. The visual polish, extensive new content and optimizations make it easy to recommend for certain players:
- New players – Get the full Skyrim journey with all DLCs and extras.
- Returning fans – Ideal for a nostalgic trip back to Tamriel if you‘ve been away for a while.
- Lightly modded games – So much new content and gameplay for hundreds of more hours.
- Collectors and completionists – All the new collectibles will satisfy your desires.
Overall, the Anniversary Edition is absolutely worth upgrading to for new players, as well as old fans who want to relive the magic of Skyrim once again. Just be cautious with mods, and wait for a discount if buying just for the new content.
