Bethesda Softworks announced a remastered “Skyrim Special Edition” coming 2016 October 28th for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The edition includes updated art, better snow and water shaders, improved reflections, and dynamic depth of field along with support for mods on the console game systems. Check out this YouTube video at 3:17. This will be a free update for PC players with “Legendary Edition” (or combined DLC packs). A 64-bit upgrade with more memory availability would be welcome on the PC, but would mean an update to SKSE for many mods.

Besides taking advantage of the popularity of TES V: Skyrim, this indicates to me that the next chapter in The Elder Scrolls may still be several years away. In the mean time, it will be interesting to see how the updated visuals compare with the work the mod community has accomplished. For Xbox One and PS4 players, it should be nice being able to install new quests, armors, or homes built by the mod community.

For TES VI, I’d be happy to visit Summerset Isles or Valenwood, but I’d like to see Elsweyr the most.

Update 12 August: As mentioned on Gamespot, Pete Hines has stated (on Twitter) about TES VI the studio “would make it eventually.” MMORPG interview with Pete Hines ends with a statement about Bethesda Game Studios’s interest in pursuing other projects. These follow up on comments made earlier this year by Todd Howard (IGN) and Pete Hines, the studio is pursuing at least two other projects before returning to TES. For now, fans will have to be content with modding Skyrim including the Special Edition.

Update 4 October: An announcement post on Bethesda.net confirms that Sony will allow mods on PS4, but only with existing assets found within the game. PS4 Pro will “render in native 4k.”