How to know if i have Skyrim SE / AE ?

[Loco]

I'm about to start modding but need to know which edition I have. How can I find out?

[steventirey]

You have the Special Edition, as you have the little mouse icon to the right of your name which indicates you own the game this forum is for. The "Anniversary Edition" is not an edition of the game - it is simply the Special Edition bundled together with all of the Creation Club content added as well.

[StreamWhenGuy]

Check the EXE version. 1.5.97 is SE. 1.6.xx is AE.

[MasterAub]

When you launch the Game the Skyrim Icon on the Game menu is golden
Or as StreamWhenGuy said the version is 1.6 or higher

[jreese46]

Originally posted by StreamWhenGuy:

Check the EXE version. 1.5.97 is SE. 1.6.xx is AE.

To expand on this a some, in case you don't want to start the game to find out, but aren't sure how to check the exe, if you go to your skyrim special edition game folder (this is commonly c > program files (x86) > steam > steam apps > common > skyrim special edition...) There, look for SkyrimSE.exe and hover your mouse over it. It should come up with a little box, and will show you File version 1.6 or 1.5.

If you have 1.5, you have what people are commonly referring to as Special Edition for the purpose of modding. If you have 1.6, you have what is commonly referred to as Anniversary Edition, though I specify commonly referred, because steventirey is correct about what is actually special vs anniversary. Unfortunately, the terms have been used interchangeably to the point that it gets confusing, but if you look at a mod's description, if it says it's for AE it means it is probably for v 1.6.

Be sure to fully read the descriptions, though, in the event something is actually meant to patch the full boat 70 some odd CC mods that come with the actual AE upgrade.

[smr1957]

The terms are confusing - especially since some people insist upon using the wrong terminology and try to justify it by saying "everyone is using it" - well, no they are not - just those who either have no clue or wish to continue muddying the field with misinformation - for whatever personal reasons. There is ONLY SSE - AE is just an optional DLC package - and the sooner those few people stop using the wrong terminology, the sooner the confusion for new players will come to an end.

[StreamWhenGuy]

Trusted forum regulars often forget for whatever reason that AE has a different version of the executable, thus requires a specific version of SKSE to be installed. That's what matters.

[xaocfera]

I'm not at all sure it's worth updating the game. My experience is that things only get worse.

[Liquid Inc]

Originally posted by xaocfera:

I'm not at all sure it's worth updating the game. My experience is that things only get worse.

in what way does it get worse?
I've had the full AE bundle since launch and i can't say it's been any less stable or more annoying to mod than it ever was. Most mods have AE versions and as more are made and updated that number simply goes up.
There's nothing wrong with remaining with 1.5, but you need to remember your reason as to why. If you've got a particular mod running on .net or another un-updated mod then stick with it, but there's no need for most. All the major mods have been done for a while now...

[Nevieth]

Originally posted by Liquid Inc:

Originally posted by xaocfera:

I'm not at all sure it's worth updating the game. My experience is that things only get worse.

in what way does it get worse?
I've had the full AE bundle since launch and i can't say it's been any less stable or more annoying to mod than it ever was. Most mods have AE versions and as more are made and updated that number simply goes up.
There's nothing wrong with remaining with 1.5, but you need to remember your reason as to why. If you've got a particular mod running on .net or another un-updated mod then stick with it, but there's no need for most. All the major mods have been done for a while now...

The main thing that hurts is having no .NET Script Framework on AE, since it would require a practically rewritten code in order to implement and the original creator has retired(?).

Address Library has been updated along with SKSE itself, so besides mods that require the .NET function, everything else should work fine.

You could also use the Best Of Both Worlds Downgrader on the Nexus which lets you keep certain Creation Club updates of AE while downgrading the exe to the pre-AE version.

[smr1957]

Originally posted by Nevieth:

The main thing that hurts is having no .NET Script Framework on AE, since it would require a practically rewritten code in order to implement and the original creator has retired(?).

Address Library has been updated along with SKSE itself, so besides mods that require the .NET function, everything else should work fine.

You could also use the Best Of Both Worlds Downgrader on the Nexus which lets you keep certain Creation Club updates of AE while downgrading the exe to the pre-AE version.

Is you are starting a new game, you absolutely should not be downgrading - and even on an existing game in which a person did not take the proper precautions to prevent the update (or due to some accident - that can happen), it is not the best choice (though understandable).

As to using Best of Both Worlds which states that you can use current CC content with the old .exe, there is this
"anyone running the game with the current CC content and who has downgraded, is running the game in a broken state because the new content requires the updated executable."
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182911

"As to using the old EXE and the new content ... it's basically a broken game courting instability"
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182918

If a person wishes to risk doing so on their game, that is fine - "your game your way."
But no one should be recommending it to anyone else.

[Vlad 254]

Originally posted by Loco:

I'm about to start modding but need to know which edition I have. How can I find out?

Start simple with a mod list of under 200 mods. Depending on your modding experience you can even start with the 4 base mods and then mod from there.

Either way you should start with a true Clean Vanilla Game which although more than a uninstall/reinstall is still simple to perform.

The game will then update to version 1.6.353 which includes 4 FREE Creation Club mods which are; Fishing, Rare Curios, Saints & Seducers, and Survival Mode (if you do not want to play Survival Mode just say "No" to the prompt which pops up shortly after you start the game). There is also an Upgrade over and above the Free update.

No need to Upgrade your game which costs $20.00us and includes the same 4 Creation Club mods plus an additional 70 Creation Club mods. I say no need but of course if this appeals to you then by all means do so.

Here's the guide that includes the 4 important base mods I spoke of. The guide also have a video for the true Clean Vanilla Game which puts the game in the proper state for modding.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2738338974

Here's a guide with approx. 500-800 mods that also includes everything the above guide includes.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2944593951

Both guides work with the updated or the upgraded versions of the game

[DownUnde]

Seeing which skyrim I have.

[alexander_dougherty]

It's all rather simple.
If you didn't BUY AE then you don't own it.
If you did buy it, then you have AE.

For the rest go by Version Number, people (including Bethesda themselves) misuse the term AE quite a lot, so you have to be flexible in how you think, it's not what is right, but what the person on the other end is thinking.

[SilverX95]

Originally posted by jreese46:

Originally posted by StreamWhenGuy:

Check the EXE version. 1.5.97 is SE. 1.6.xx is AE.

To expand on this a some, in case you don't want to start the game to find out, but aren't sure how to check the exe, if you go to your skyrim special edition game folder (this is commonly c > program files (x86) > steam > steam apps > common > skyrim special edition...) There, look for SkyrimSE.exe and hover your mouse over it. It should come up with a little box, and will show you File version 1.6 or 1.5.

If you have 1.5, you have what people are commonly referring to as Special Edition for the purpose of modding. If you have 1.6, you have what is commonly referred to as Anniversary Edition, though I specify commonly referred, because steventirey is correct about what is actually special vs anniversary. Unfortunately, the terms have been used interchangeably to the point that it gets confusing, but if you look at a mod's description, if it says it's for AE it means it is probably for v 1.6.

Be sure to fully read the descriptions, though, in the event something is actually meant to patch the full boat 70 some odd CC mods that come with the actual AE upgrade.

1.6 is Special Edition but its also AE but AE is the DLC add-on pack

1.5 has to do with a bunch of old mods that no one really should care about

you can also do this
Find Downloadable Content (DLC) for My Games https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6948-51E6-E624-8A84

[biceps always together!!]

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

It's all rather simple.
If you didn't BUY AE then you don't own it.
If you did buy it, then you have AE.

For the rest go by Version Number, people (including Bethesda themselves) misuse the term AE quite a lot, so you have to be flexible in how you think, it's not what is right, but what the person on the other end is thinking.

I didn't buy the AE. I bought SE.
My game's version number is 1.6.659.0.8.

I assumed they just merged the executables, and the AE content would be handled as DLC.
However, I just ran across an item in my game that the Elder Scrolls wiki tells me should be part of AE/Creation Club.

I would also be interested in a simple way to check which version I'm playing in-game.