The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Achieves Astonishing 2 Billion Mods Downloaded

By whizzerlow Gaming News
4 January 2025 no comments

As 2025 kicks off, an incredible announcement about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is here: the original version has surpassed a staggering 2 billion mod downloaded.

Learn more about The Elder Scrolls series with our Pixel Sundays

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (or simply Skyrim) is the fifth installment in Bethesda’s renowned fantasy RPG open-world series. It began in 1994 with Arena and reached its peak with Skyrim, released in 2011. The series intrigued players from the start but captivated audiences starting with the beloved TES III Morrowind.

Thanks to its expansive lore, freely explorable world, and countless quests. Accompanied by a modding community that exploded with Oblivion and peaked with Skyrim, making it the most modded game ever over 13 years since its release.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – 2 Billion Mod Downloads

This news comes from the well-known mod platform Nexus Mods. From its homepage, you can see games ranked by the number of mod downloads, and in second place is Skyrim’s original version, often called “Oldrim.”

An impressive milestone for the original version, over 13 years since its 2011 release. While modding initially began to fix Bethesda’s typical bugs, it grew significantly in scope and content. Especially thanks to the studio choice of releasing of the Creation Kit for the modding community.

TES V Skyrim: Vanilla vs Special Edition

The original Skyrim is surpassed by none other than its Special Edition (Newrim), released on 28 October 2016. This version included minor fixes, better stability and graphical updates for eighth-generation consoles. Alongside all the previous DLCs and mod support for  consoles.

Newrim hit 2 billion downloads back in 2022 and now boasts an impressive 6.2 billion. Combined with the original, we’re talking about over 8 billion mod downloaded, with dozens, if not hundreds, of new mods every week.

Skyrim: Most Downloaded Vanilla Mods

While many modders and players have moved to the Special Edition for a better experience, the original version remains a great alternative. Despite lower stability, its lower system requirements make it accessible even on older systems. The top 3 most downloaded Skyrim Vanilla mods are:

• SkyUI: A UI overhaul for a cleaner, more intuitive menu on PC, featuring numerous advanced options.
• Skyrim HD – 2K Textures: A texture pack that’s less demanding and more optimized than the free High Resolution Texture Pack DLC.
• Fores New Idles in Skyrim: Adds new animations and poses to the game. Includes a handy spell to apply them to any NPC.

2024 was a big year for Skyrim, with community interest still going strong. And 2025 is packed with surprises, like the announcement of Skyblivion this year—a massive project to bring TES IV Oblivion into Skyrim, in development since 2012! We’re also awaiting updates on the highly anticipated The Elder Scrolls VI.

whizzerlow

A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !

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