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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is getting a Survival mode

You have to eat, drink, sleep, keep warm, and more to survive next month.

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Fallout 4 players have been challenging themselves in the game's Survival mode for quite some time already, and now it's time to see if you'd really survive in Skyrim as well, as Bethesda has announced that the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One players will have the chance to download a Survival mode for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition in early October. Those of you who own the game on Steam can even try the beta version right now.

This mode is very similar to the one in Fallout 4, as we'll have to eat (including cooking the food) drink, sleep, keep warm, walk/ride everywhere (fast travel has been disabled), and much more to survive. These are all the things you have to keep in mind when playing the new mode:

Hunger
Over time, you will become hungry, which will impact your total stamina, as well as your ability to wield most weapons. As you become hungrier, your total available stamina will decrease, represented by a dark region inside the stamina bar. Eat food to restore your hunger. If you eat enough, you will receive the Well Fed bonus. Cooked food restores more hunger than uncooked food. If you eat raw meat, you may contract Food Poisoning, which can prevent you from receiving health benefits from food until the effect wears off. Hot soups can now be cooked by using fire salts, which restore your cold and also grant a bonus to your warmth rating.

Fatigue
Fatigue decreases your total available magicka, represented by a dark region inside the magicka bar. As you become more fatigued, the effectiveness of potions will begin to decline, and your ability to recover magicka and stamina will begin to suffer. You will need to periodically sleep in a bed in order to restore your fatigue. In Survival, the Well Rested bonus is no longer granted automatically after sleeping. If you sleep outside, you will not be able to get a restful night's sleep, waking up Drained at best. If you sleep in a bed indoors, you will receive the Well Rested bonus.

Cold
Travelling in snowy or rainy areas will increase your Cold. Cold decreases your total available health, represented as a dark region inside the health bar. As you become colder, your movement speed and ability to pick locks and pick pockets will begin to suffer. If you reach the highest level of Cold, your health will be reduced to zero and you will die from exposure to the elements. You can warm up by standing near a fire, eating hot soup, or moving to a warmer location. A sun or snowflake icon will appear near the compass to note whether you are currently getting warmer or colder.

Warmth
The higher your warmth rating, the more slowly you will feel the effects of cold environments. Most clothing and armor provide warmth, displayed on the item's description. Some armor is exceptionally warm, while others are ill-suited to protect their wearer from harsh climates. You can also temporarily increase your warmth rating by eating hot soup or holding a torch.

Freezing Water
If you swim in a freezing area, you will immediately become colder and begin taking health damage. Exit the water as soon as possible in order to begin warming up and stop the loss of health. Using a Flame Cloak spell or the Dunmer Ancestor's Wrath ability can make you temporarily immune to the effects of freezing water.

Fast Travel
Fast Travel is disabled. If you wish to go somewhere, you must do so on foot or by horseback. You can also take a carriage or boat to your destination, but note that you may arrive hungry, cold, and in need of rest after a long journey.

Health Regeneration
You no longer regenerate health. You must use restorative spells, food, and potions to replenish your health.

Leveling Up
To level up, you must now sleep in a bed. You may still spend your perk points later once they have been granted after sleeping.

Carry Weight
Your carry weight has been significantly reduced. Becoming overencumbered also quickly drains your stamina and causes you to become fatigued much faster. Arrows and lockpicks now have weight.

Disease
Creatures across the land now carry threatening new diseases, and previous diseases are now even more debilitating. Eating uncooked meat can now cause Food Poisoning. If you fail to cure a disease, it may progress into a more serious version over time.

Afflictions
Time spent while unwell puts you at risk of contracting an affliction, which causes effects that can linger long after you have improved your condition. Afflictions will naturally wear off, or can be cured like other diseases. Some Afflictions include:

• Weakened: You are less effective at using melee weapons and blocking damage with your shield.
• Addled: All enchantments and spells cast are less effective.
• Frostbitten: You are less effective at picking locks, picking pockets, and doing damage with a bow.

Shrines
Shrines no longer cure diseases for free; you must now make a gold offering in order to receive the shrine's benefits. Shrines you craft in a house you have built can be used for free.

Perks & Standing Stones
The Extra Pockets perk and The Steed Stone now grant 50 extra carry weight, instead of 100.

Vampires & Werewolves
Both vampires and werewolves can restore their hunger by feeding on their victims. While transformed into a Werewolf or Vampire Lord, you will become colder much slower than normal.

Does this sound interesting? Then it's very important to mention that this mode will be free to download and keep in the controversial Creation Club for the first week after it launches. Miss this, and you'll have to pay a yet-to-be-announced price for it.

What do you think of this Survival mode? Can you handle it?

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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