Some people prefer the LE due to low end rigs and mods, so why didn't GOG include LE when they added Skyrim? Can a dev comment?

Bethesda probably didn't allow it.

I am just guessing, but one reason could be because GOG didn't want to pay for the extra tech support costs that would come from selling a much more obsolete version of the game, which probably wouldn't sell many copies, but which probably would cause the creation of many support tickets.

I'm not sure that Bethesda staff are regulars on the GoG forum. If you want them to comment, you're best off directing your question to Bethesda/Zenimax.

Chances are that, as LegoDnD said, Bethesda just didn't allow it.

I think it was pretty obvious I was referring to a GOG dev/admin.

Need to know if Bethesda would allow them to host it first. If Bethesda don't want LE released there is nothing GOG can do about it.

Judging by how they treat the Legendary Edition on Steam (never discounted, can't even be found via search on Steam), I'd guess that the owners of Skyrim are not interested in promoting the old version.

Yes.

I believe Legendary Edition has been abandoned (and withdrawn) by Bethesda as far as sales go. They have moved to Special Edition and Anniversary Edition which are both technically the same version of Skyrim with / or without extras. I'm not a dev, but...

... for lower-end rigs I'd look to YouTube. I'm sure someone -- even with the newer versions -- is going through the process of running it adequately on low-end machines.

Here's a start:

"THE ELDER SCROLL V SKYRIM ANNIVERSARY EDITION LOW END PC | Q8400 | R7 240 | 4GB RAM |"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDJy9HKsZz8

Hope that helps!

I think a lot people on forums do not understand how many things are out GOG hands.

It's not just an issue of hardware, the LE just looks better imo, it's a got a much more gritter feel than the SE, which to me feels saturated and overdone with bloom effect.

You said dev. This implies a programmer, which implied Bethesda. A GoG developer is basically a web developer, who wouldn't know. A GoG admin also wouldn't know.

You would need to directly ask the GoG negotiations and acquisition team, who wouldn't comment for commercial reasons. Occam's razor suggests Bethesda didn't allow it.

This is the USER forum, not the GOG internal business details sharing forum - what more needs to be said?

Go here: www.askjeev... I mean askgog.com

I'd say more likely the NDA in place prevents it than purely commercial reasons, but a solid response nontheless.

What are you even talking about?

Hello JJoodkokksokKKSk!

I do totally agree with you, the original version of "TES V: Skyrim" (and now called "Legendary Edition") portrays a completely different ambient atmosphere, which some peolpe (like "us") still prefer over the "new and shiny" Special or Anniversary Edition. (I would not mind the lower system requirements of the Legendary Edition either!)

But a friendly GOG.COM user, DropA, posted some fantastic (simple to install and easy to use) mods, which replace the modern over-saturated weather effects, 'smurf'-blue sky and crystal sharp far landscape with the original weather conditions from the 2013 Legendary Edition. The user also suggested and linked two additional mods recreating the blurry rendering in the distance and a dense rain pour.

Legendary Weather Mods recommended by DropA

Direct links to the TES V Special Edition modifications (on Nexusmods):
Skyrim Legendary Weathers
Skyrim Pouring Rain
Skyrim Distant Blur

Alternatively, you could use a slightly adapted version of the Legendary Weathers modification, which brings back the (original) Skyrim weathers, but keeps the clear and cloudy weather from the newer Special / Anniversary Edition:
Skyrim Legendary Weathers (Vanilla Clear and Cloudy)

I am very grateful for DropA having pointed me to these mods! With them I can play the Special Edition with an almost intact ambient atmosphere from the original game and with next to zero impact on the frame rate.

Kind regards,
foxgog