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Skyrim Special Edition and Skyrim Anniversary Edition are not two separate PS5 games. Special Edition is the base package. Eligible PS5 owners receive its next-generation game-version upgrade at no charge, while Anniversary Edition adds a large bundle of Creation Club content. If you already own Special Edition, you normally buy the separate Anniversary Upgrade rather than repurchasing the complete game.
The practical distinction is between a free PS5 version upgrade and a paid content upgrade. The free upgrade changes the version of the game available on PS5; the Anniversary Upgrade unlocks the additional Creations. Your exact price is set by your regional PlayStation Store listing.
![ELDER SCROLLS V 5 SKYRIM SPECIAL EDITION [M]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51QB2Ep+iFL._SL160_.jpg)
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Special Edition and Anniversary Edition are different kinds of upgrades
Special Edition is the base package
Skyrim Special Edition is the standard edition on which the PS5 offering is built. Bethesda describes it as the edition that receives the free next-generation upgrade on PS5 for eligible owners. That upgrade concerns the game version itself; it should not be confused with the Anniversary content package.
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The official store descriptions treat Special Edition as a separate product from the Anniversary Edition. A Special Edition owner can continue playing that edition on PS5 without purchasing Anniversary content.
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Anniversary Edition is Special Edition plus Creations
Anniversary Edition bundles Skyrim Special Edition with the Anniversary content package. Bethesda’s support description says the package includes 74 Creations, while the US PlayStation Store listing identifies the core game, Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn, plus Creation Club content released on or before November 11, 2021.
That catalog includes additions such as Fishing, Survival Mode, Saints & Seducers, Rare Curios, new armor sets, homes, quests, weapons, spells and other in-game items. The store page’s list is a description of the bundle, not a claim that every named Creation is exclusive to Anniversary Edition.
The free PS5 upgrade and paid Anniversary Upgrade are separate
Bethesda says owners of Special Edition or Anniversary Edition receive the next-generation PS5 upgrade free. Bethesda separately describes the Anniversary Upgrade as the route for Special Edition owners to obtain the extra Anniversary content. Owning the free PS5 version therefore does not automatically mean that you own the paid Anniversary catalog.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Question | Special Edition | Anniversary Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skyrim game | Yes; this is the base edition. | Yes; it includes Special Edition. |
| Official add-ons named by the Anniversary store listing | The Anniversary listing names Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn as part of the full package. Check the separate local Special Edition listing for the exact product description. | Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn are listed as included. |
| Creation Club content | Does not automatically grant the Anniversary catalog. Some Creations, including Fishing, Survival Mode, Saints & Seducers and Rare Curios, have been made available with Special Edition. | Includes the Anniversary bundle of Creations, described by Bethesda as 74 Creations. |
| PS5 game-version upgrade | Free for eligible owners. | Free for eligible owners. |
| Anniversary content upgrade | Purchased separately through the Anniversary Upgrade. | Already part of the purchased package. |
| Current price | Depends on the local PlayStation Store listing and any sale. | Depends on the local PlayStation Store listing and any sale. |
What Anniversary Edition includes on PS5
The complete Special Edition game
Buying Anniversary Edition gives you the Skyrim Special Edition game rather than a small add-on that runs independently. The Anniversary Edition product is listed for both PS5 and PS4, so the purchase is tied to the platform entitlement shown in your regional store listing.
Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn
The official US PlayStation Store Anniversary listing explicitly names all three major official add-ons:
- Dawnguard: the vampire-hunting and vampire-story expansion.
- Hearthfire: the home-building and adoption add-on.
- Dragonborn: the Solstheim adventure and Miraak storyline.
These are listed as part of the full Anniversary package, not as separate purchases you must add after buying it. If you are comparing a different regional listing, read its inclusions panel because store wording and product IDs can vary by territory.
The Creation Club bundle
Bethesda’s support page describes Anniversary Edition as including 74 Creations. That page uses a time-specific breakdown of 48 available Creations and 26 to be released, so the figure should be understood as the description used on that support page rather than a promise that the live catalog can never change.
The US store listing dates its included catalog to Creations released on or before November 11, 2021. Named examples include:
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![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
- Fishing
- Survival Mode
- Saints & Seducers
- Rare Curios
- Additional armor and weapon sets
- Player homes
- Quests and new encounters
- Spells and other gameplay additions
Bethesda’s original announcement also said Anniversary Edition included previously released Creations, including four free Creations. The presence of a Creation in the Anniversary list does not prove that it is locked behind Anniversary Edition: the store listing specifically notes Fishing, Rare Curios, Saints & Seducers and Survival Mode as included with Special Edition. Treat those free or separately available items as part of the base offering when your account already owns them.
What a Special Edition owner receives on PS5
If you own Special Edition digitally
Your first step is the free next-generation game-version upgrade offered to eligible Special Edition owners. After that, the Anniversary content remains optional. Bethesda Support directs digital owners to the in-game route labelled Available Now: Skyrim Anniversary Upgrade! That option takes you to the platform store where you can buy the content upgrade.
- Install or launch Skyrim Special Edition on your PS5 using the account that owns the game.
- Accept the free next-generation upgrade offered for your Special Edition entitlement, if it has not already been applied.
- Open the in-game Available Now: Skyrim Anniversary Upgrade! option.
- Review the PlayStation Store product shown for your region, including its current price and platform labels.
- Complete the purchase only if you want the additional Anniversary Creations.
- Download the content and restart the game if the store or console requests it.
The free PS5 version upgrade and the paid content purchase can appear close together in the interface, but they grant different things. Declining the Anniversary purchase does not remove your entitlement to play Special Edition on PS5.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIf you own the physical Special Edition disc
Bethesda says the disc must be installed and kept in the console for the Anniversary Upgrade purchase option to appear. The disc acts as the ownership check; you cannot expect the same upgrade prompt while the qualifying disc is absent.
- Insert the physical Special Edition disc into the PS5 and install the game.
- Leave that disc in the console while launching the game and looking for the Anniversary Upgrade option.
- Open the in-game upgrade route and follow it to the PlayStation Store.
- Confirm that the displayed product matches your territory and the PS5/PS4 entitlement you intend to use.
- Purchase and download the Anniversary content.
If the option does not appear, verify that the disc is the correct regional edition for your PlayStation account, that it is inserted, and that the game is launched from the disc entitlement. Bethesda’s documented requirement is that the physical disc be installed and present; a digital purchase of the base game is not created by inserting the disc.
If you are buying Skyrim for the first time
Compare the local prices of the complete Anniversary Edition and Special Edition before checking out. Anniversary Edition is the simpler route if you know you want the Creation bundle because it combines the game and content in one product. Special Edition is the lower-commitment route if you want the base game first and may decide about the Anniversary Upgrade later.
How much does the Anniversary Upgrade cost?
Do not use the launch price as a current PS5 price. Bethesda’s 2021-era Anniversary FAQ listed these launch MSRPs for the upgrade:
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| United States | USD $19.99 | Launch-era figure, not a guaranteed current price. |
| Euro pricing | EUR €19.99 | Launch-era figure, not a guaranteed current price. |
| United Kingdom | GBP £15.99 | Launch-era figure, not a guaranteed current price. |
| Australia | AUD $29.95 | Launch-era figure, not a guaranteed current price. |
| Russia | RUB 1429 | Launch-era figure, not a guaranteed current price. |
Those amounts were published for launch and may be changed by regional pricing, taxes, currency conversion, or a sale. The only reliable current amount is the price shown for your account in your local PlayStation Store listing. A physical copy’s shelf price and a digital upgrade price can also differ, so check the exact product before paying.
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- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
Physical Anniversary Edition copies still need an internet connection
A disc edition does not necessarily contain every Creation as a completely self-contained offline install. Bethesda’s FAQ says internet access is required to redeem and download the Creation Club content included with the physical Anniversary Edition.
Plan for the following when using a physical copy:
- Connect the PS5 to the internet before attempting to redeem the included content.
- Sign in to the PlayStation account that will own the entitlement.
- Allow time and storage for the Creation downloads and any game updates.
- Keep the disc available if your physical license requires it to launch the game.
The requirement concerns redeeming and downloading the included Creations. It is separate from the question of whether your base game can be launched from a disc after installation.
Trophies: the documented PS4-to-PS5 exception
Bethesda’s Anniversary FAQ says trophy progress carries over except when upgrading the PlayStation 4 version to the PlayStation 5 version. That statement is a launch-era support position, not a guarantee about every current account or platform scenario.
If trophy continuity matters to you, check the current PlayStation product information and Bethesda support guidance before moving from PS4 to PS5. Avoid assuming that buying Anniversary content, changing editions, and changing console generations are all the same operation: the documented exception specifically concerns the PS4-to-PS5 upgrade path.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which purchase route fits your situation?
You own digital Special Edition and only want to play on PS5
Take the free next-generation upgrade and stop there. You do not need Anniversary Edition to access the PS5 version of the base game.
You own digital Special Edition and want the extra Creations
Use the in-game Anniversary Upgrade route, review the current regional price, and purchase the content upgrade. Buying the full game again is unnecessary when the upgrade is offered for your existing entitlement.
You own the Special Edition disc
Insert and install the disc first. The Anniversary purchase option is documented to appear only when the physical disc is installed and present in the console.
You do not own Skyrim yet
Compare the complete Anniversary Edition with Special Edition in your local store. Choose Anniversary Edition when its included Creations justify the difference for you; choose Special Edition when you want the core package and prefer to decide later.
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- Lead epic Viking raids against Saxon troops and fortresses
- Relive the visceral fighting style of the Vikings as you dual-wield powerful weapons
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- Shape the growth of your character and your clan's settlement with every choice you make
- Explore a Dark Age open world, from the harsh shores of Norway to the beautiful kingdoms of England
You are buying a used physical Anniversary copy
Confirm what the seller’s package includes and whether the included Creation content can still be redeemed. Bethesda requires internet access for redemption and download, and a used disc may involve account-specific entitlements or codes. The store listing and the product packaging are the safest places to verify the exact edition before purchase.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: treating the free PS5 upgrade as Anniversary Edition
The free upgrade changes the game version for eligible Special Edition and Anniversary Edition owners. It does not by itself grant the Anniversary Creation catalog. Look for the separate Anniversary Upgrade listing when you want the additional content.
Mistake: paying for the full game when an upgrade is available
Existing digital Special Edition owners should use the in-game upgrade route. Physical owners should insert the qualifying disc so the store can recognize the entitlement. Buying the complete game again is not the documented requirement for obtaining Anniversary content.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallMistake: assuming every Creation in the Anniversary list is exclusive
Some listed items were included with Special Edition, including Fishing, Survival Mode, Saints & Seducers and Rare Curios. Compare what is already installed or owned on your account before deciding whether the paid upgrade adds enough new content.
Mistake: quoting the 2021 price as today’s price
The USD $19.99, EUR €19.99, GBP £15.99, AUD $29.95 and RUB 1429 amounts are historical launch MSRPs from Bethesda’s FAQ. Open your regional PlayStation Store listing for the current price and sale status.
Mistake: expecting a disc to contain every download
Bethesda says internet access is required to redeem and download Creation Club content included with the physical Anniversary Edition. Connect the console before starting the redemption process.
Mistake: assuming trophy transfer is universal
Bethesda’s FAQ records an exception for upgrading the PS4 version to PS5. Trophy-sensitive players should verify current platform behavior before changing generations.
What the official specifications do not establish
The cited store and support descriptions establish the editions, add-ons, Creation content, upgrade routes, launch pricing and download requirement. They do not provide a single authoritative frame-rate or resolution table for comparing PS5 performance between Special Edition and Anniversary Edition. Do not choose between the editions on a performance number that is not stated in those product descriptions; choose based on the content and entitlement you need.
Bottom line for PS5 buyers
Special Edition is enough for the base Skyrim experience on PS5 and qualifies for the free next-generation game-version upgrade. Anniversary Edition is the all-in package: Special Edition, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn and the Anniversary Creation bundle. Existing Special Edition owners should use the Anniversary Upgrade when they want that content, while new buyers should compare the two complete products in their local PlayStation Store. Check the current listing rather than relying on the historical launch price, and remember that physical editions require internet access for Creation downloads.
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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.
