SkyrimSE:Game Files

Skyrim Special Edition Game Files

A guide to the game files for Skyrim Special Edition

by: The Step Team

Guide scope

This guide serves as a general reference to the game files for Skyrim Special Edition. The files and folders shall be described and a general explanation of their purpose provided. This may include a description of files not included with the game as long as they are clearly marked as such.

Vanilla game files

Below is a listing and directory structure of all files included within the English version of the vanilla game at install.

• Skyrim Special Edition
  • _CommonRedist
    • DirectX
      • Jun2010
    • vcredist
      • 2015
  • Data
    • Video
      • BGS_Logo.bik
    • Dawnguard.esm
    • Dragonborn.esm
    • HearthFires.esm
    • Skyrim - Animations.bsa
    • Skyrim - Interface.bsa
    • Skyrim - Meshes0.bsa
    • Skyrim - Meshes1.bsa
    • Skyrim - Misc.bsa
    • Skyrim - Patch.bsa
    • Skyrim - Shaders.bsa
    • Skyrim - Sounds.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures0.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures1.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures2.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures3.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures4.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures5.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures6.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures7.bsa
    • Skyrim - Textures8.bsa
    • Skyrim - Voices_en0.bsa
    • Skyrim.esm
    • Update.esm
  • Skyrim
    • SkyrimPrefs.ini
  • binkw64.dll
  • high.ini
  • installscript.vdf
  • low.ini
  • medium.ini
  • Skyrim.ccc
  • Skyrim_Default.ini
  • SkyrimSE.exe
  • SkyrimSELauncher.exe
  • steam_api64.dll
  • ultra.ini

_CommonRedist

This folder would contain redistributable installers that are necessary for the game to function. These installers may be removed upon successful installation.

DirectX

The DirectX folder would contain the DirectX redistributable required for Skyrim SE to function. If for any reason DirectX has issues, commonly when the system's operating system has been reinstalled, the redistributable can be downloaded and installed from Microsoft at the following link: DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010)

vcredist

The vcredist folder would contain the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 installation files required for Skyrim SE to function. If for any reason this redistributable needs to be reinstalled, it can be downloaded and install from Microsoft at the following link: Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015

Data

The data directory contains data files for the game.

Skyrim

The Skyrim folder within the game folder contains a single game INI file, SkyrimPrefs.ini, which is read by the SkyrimSELauncher.exe and used as a baseline for the preset ini files (low.ini, medium.ini, high.ini, ultra.ini) upon application of the preset buttons within the launcher's Options menu.