Skyrim Isn’t Done Yet: Anniversary Edition Now Playable on Switch 2—with Exclusive Zelda Gear

Skyrim returns for another encore, this time on Switch 2, and yes, you can wield the Master Sword. Bethesda and Nintendo just dropped The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Anniversary Edition on the new Switch 2, adding another system to the game’s seemingly endless hit parade. The re-release goes beyond a simple port, boasting faster load times, improved resolution, and a few Nintendo-themed treats that hardcore fans will instantly recognise.

If you’ve already invested in Skyrim on the original Switch, there’s good news: upgrading is free when you move to Switch 2. If you own just the base game, you’ll need to grab the Anniversary Upgrade first to hop into all the new content on Nintendo’s latest device.

What’s Actually New in Skyrim’s Switch 2 Edition?

You’re not getting a half-hearted port here. Switch 2’s hardware lets you experience Skyrim with noticeably snappier load times and enhanced visuals. But the real highlight is the suite of Zelda-themed gear nodding to Breath of the Wild: you can find the Master Sword, don the Champion’s Tunic, and equip the Hylian Shield. This cross-franchise fan service was in the original Switch port, but it’s back and just as charming for the next hardware generation.

This version packs in everything Skyrim’s Anniversary Edition includes. That means you get the base game, all three expansions, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn, and “hundreds” of unique Creation Club items right out of the box. It’s a monster content package for RPG fans.

Picking up the Anniversary Edition on Switch 2 will set you back £52.99, with purchase available now. Bethesda’s commitment to keeping Skyrim in circulation looks as ironclad as ever.

Why Skyrim Keeps Getting Re-released, and What’s Next for The Elder Scrolls

If you’re wondering why Skyrim keeps resurfacing, you’re not alone. With fans still waiting for The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda seems happy to keep revisiting its 2011 classic in increasingly polished forms. As for when you’ll actually see the next mainline entry? Bethesda’s Todd Howard recently said Elder Scrolls 6 is still “a long way off” but is finally a day-to-day project for the studio. Back in 2023, Howard even admitted he probably should have been more casual about the game’s original reveal.

That announcement, as Skyrim’s lead designer Bruce Nesmith revealed, came as a direct response to fan pressure, saying the studio hoped to calm those with their “pitchforks and torches” out for more info. The appetite for Elder Scrolls isn’t exactly shrinking.

There’s another twist: Howard hasn’t ruled out adapting Elder Scrolls for television. He told reporters that he’s “willing to say ‘no’ for a decade,” noting it took him about that long to greenlight Fallout’s TV debut. It’s clear Bethesda is taking its time with the franchise’s future.

So for now, the wait continues. But if you want to slay dragons, shout at mountains, and collect rupees, all from the comfort of Nintendo’s newest hardware, Skyrim’s latest version is ready for you. If you’ve lost count of how many times you’ve bought it, you’re not alone.