Alright so I found Skyrim Legendary Edition at Walmart for $20, seemed like a good deal so I bought it. Before I opened it I noticed on the back of the box that it requires a steam account, so I did some research and found out that the disc is useless once I register it on steam, which means I can't gift the game to some else. However an idea came up that I couldn't find an answer to, I have a feeling I'm not going to like the answer, but I must know regardless. What if that someone else already own the vanilla version of Skyrim, will he be able to access the DLC's using the disc from the physical copy, even after I already registered the copy from steam? Has anyone tried and can verify this?

8 years ago

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No.

Base game and DLCs comes as one key, you can't activate Skyrim Legendary on Steam and then use "only" DLC on someone else account. And adding legendary version on account with vanilla game either gives jsut DLC, or adds separate "Skyrim LE" game to your library.

8 years ago
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So there's nothing to install on the disc, and it becomes completely useless after registration?

8 years ago
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My guess is definitely not. But it is just a guess.

8 years ago
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Technically it's possible to "transfer" the DLCs in an "unofficial way", although I don't think we're allowed to discuss it here...
Although the DLCs would be recognized by the game, they wouldn't unlock achievements, just like if they were simple mods.

8 years ago
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by "transfer", you mean drag and drop or it requires some kind of unofficial patch?

8 years ago
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Exactly that. From the Steam installation of an account that owns them.
Although, strictly speaking, as talgaby said, that would be piracy.

8 years ago
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They will unlock achievements.

8 years ago
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If they copy the files, yes. They will even get DLC achievements. But strictly speaking, this is piracy. Still, all of the games that used Bethesda's engine worked that way. (This is how I had Lonesome Road for New Vegas, before I gave up waiting on them to release it in my region as a separate DLC and re-bought the Ultimate Edition just for one DLC.)

8 years ago
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So there are files on the disc that can be transferred over?

8 years ago
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Depends on how the installer works on it. You may need to transfer the files after installation: the DLC in reality are just game plug-in files, they work exactly the same way mods work for these games. But, again, transferring them to someone else is not exactly legal.

8 years ago
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Skyrim handles DLC differently to other Steam games. DLC is handled the same as unofficial mods and selected in the games launcher - if you have the files you can play the DLC without owning it on Steam. But that is a hell of a legal/ethical minefield that I'm not getting involved in...

8 years ago
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Interesting, so you're saying that the dlc can be downloaded from the disc, even without steam? I understand the legality of this but i purchased the disc to be drm free and actually "owning" the game.

8 years ago
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If there're the actual game files on the disc, then yes. Although nowadays, some publishers just put the Steam installer there.

I purchased the disc to be drm free and actually "owning" the game.

Sadly, that's not the case here, Skyrim always needed Steam, and it's not available DRM-free anywhere.
Also, you don't legally "own" it, you're just entitled to a limited license to install and play a copy of the game, until it's valid.

8 years ago
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Ok thanks info guys, sorry if I crossed any line. My dad own vanilla and I just bought the legendary, was just seeing if I could help him get the extra content, but it sounds like too much of a hassle to bother.

8 years ago
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Well, he isn't missing too much, really.
While Dawnguard and Dragonborn are alright campaigns, there're many mods with higher quality on the workshop.

As for Hearthfire, custom houses can be found on the workshop too.
The only worthwile addition is the unlimited level cap, but I'm sure that could too be modded into the game.

Now I just realized that I tiped "too" way too many times...

8 years ago
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The key is the licensed copy. That's it. You could gift an unactivated key together with the disk or separately. The disk can be useful if one must save on the internet traffic for some reasons: one can install from the disk, but still needs to download an update to play offline; the download size should be smaller though.

8 years ago
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If I recall the download required for the Legendary Edition isn't that big. The reason for installing from the disc can be summarized in two words - data caps.

8 years ago
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15GB or so is a fair bit to be honest.

8 years ago
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Some people have to get by with 3 or even 2gb a month.

8 years ago
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Now I suggest everyone to remove our "borderline" comments, just to be safe.

8 years ago
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The person who has the vanilla might as well just delete it and install the game and DLC using the disc. Its not like a download, it takes like 10 minutes tops to install

8 years ago
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Ok thanks info guys, sorry if I crossed any line. My dad own vanilla and I just bought the legendary, was just seeing if I could help him get the extra content, but it sounds like too much of a hassle to bother.

8 years ago
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Oh, that? Have him remove his copy from his account permanently, then family share from your account to his. He will be able to play the full content as long as you are not playing it at the same time.

8 years ago
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Correction: as long as you are NOT PLAYING at the same time. It doesn't matter what are you playing.

8 years ago
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just kill the dragon

8 years ago
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Closed 8 years ago by DBZkakarot.