That's something that was requested many times over the years by various users here. To get the original as a bonus, or at least have the original executables (e.g. for dos games, or old windows platforms) not cut out with these releases. Nobody asks for support of such standalone extra/bonus versions, just having them included is more than enough for retro-builds etc, for those who care.

Gog is the best storefront imo for such thing, but unfortunately they focus on the most modern windows and if the game loses compatibility with an old/original system in the proces, it's no big deal apparently.

Your best bet are various archives, dl sites, abandonwares even and such, if you are looking for a specific versions that can't be downloaded via rollback on steam or gog. Corporations / big publishers seem to hate the whole idea of users having the old version available to them.

That's like implying GOG ever had any choice on that matter and rejected the legacy version, which I doubt is the case. It's hardly missed opportunity when there never was such opportunity in the first place.

If GOG got the game 10 years ago, this would have been a possibility, but they only got what Bethesda gave them now.

I dunno, i doubt Bethesda would allow GoG to offer the old versions, even if they even wanted to (which i doubt).

To get the benefit, GoG would need to host both versions of the game (Original and Enhanced or whatever it's called) - otherwise you'd have the other half of the forum complaining that it's another game treating GoG users like second class citizens.

What dose original version offer that's better? More mods?

This has happened previously - most notably with the D&D RPGs (Baldur's Gate series, Icewind Dale, Neverwinter Nights) where the original version is available as an extra.

In cases where "enhanced" versions come with increased hardware/OS requirements, having access to the original version becomes more important. I wouldn't touch Skyrm in its current (64-bit) form but having the original 32-bit version available would be of greater interest.

Quite - it's also the case with the Witcher 3.

Hello Syphon72!

I have never played the original version (later called "Legendary Edition") of "Skyrim".
From comparing reports and gameplay footage, I concluded three major differences:

First, the original version ("Legendary Edition") was compatible with more community mods.
Both the "Special Edition" and the later "Anniversary Edition" updates broke compatibility (the latter especially due to the replacement of the game's own modifications manager with the [comercial attempt of the] Creation Club--think of a Steam Workshop made by Bethesda just for "Skyrim").
This advantage of the original version is diminishing over time, since quite a lot of the user-created modifications are getting updated/fixed. (By the way, really affected are only the script and DLL-insertion dependent mods! And the community made mod manager tools, since the GOG.com release uses some different folder names/locations.)

Secondly, the original version still runs on a 32-Bit basis and was not loaded with resource heavier uspcaled textures. Hence, its system requirements/demands are significantly lower, enabling users with older computers to install and play the game! (Both the "Special Edition" and the "Anniversary Edition" utilize and require a 64-Bit system and a more potent graphics solution.)

And thirdly, the original version (now "Legendary Edition") has a completely different tone or atmosphere! The "Special Edition" update included not only higher resolution textures, but also changes in the lighting system (both shadows and colors), a shift to a more colorful, autumn-like (orange) ambience with a blue sky, and decrease of the visual impact of harsh weather conditions.
The original "Skyrim" features a harsher, bleak and overall more greyish, darker environment, where bad weather reduces visibility significantly! This atmosphere, which is fitting for the nordic and on top of the world (mountainous region) feel of the game, is lost entirely in the "Special" & "Anniversary Edition".


For me, the second (ower system requirements) and third differences (atmosphere & tone) are more important when expressing interest in access to the original version ("Legendary Edition") of "Skyrim".

But I have to admit, that the 64-Bit version available here on GOG.com runs so far without any problem on my Windows 10 machine and has not crashed once, yet. According to reports from other users, the 64-Bit "Special" & "Anniversary Edition" are more stable than the original one, which can become prone to frequent crashing after long time of playing or heavy modding due to its memory limitations.

And regarding the lack of the orginial atmosphere and tone, a friendly user (DropA) linked simple to use mods that restore the weathers and feel of the original, namely:
- "Skyrim Legendary Weathers"
- "Skyrim Distant Blur"
- "Pouring Rain"


So, basically, the advantage of the original version boils down to downward compatibility with older computers and lower system requirements.

Kind regards,
foxgog

foxgog, isn't it a forum, not emails? Yes, very unlikely we will get the other version,

Then the store and Bethesda are "surprised" why people go to by the road of The Seven Seas, arrgh! When the people who conduct questionable activity get better support and freedom of choice than a legal customer, something is clearly majorly wrong. A customer should be treated better in my opinion,

Thank you very much for the information. Last time I played the original version was on PS3.

Folks, look up the GOG forum section on "Saints Row IV: Re-Elected," that's the modern GOG way, when a publisher replaces the game with a console-oriented remaster from 2015 with Epic Games Launcher and now not working autosaves (!), as well as ditching Windows 7 (it doesn't launch after installation anymore!) for every customer who bought the original from 2013. You see, that's why so hard to be optimistic on it ever listen to adding the original version of Skyrim. This incident is the core of my deep skepticism towards a good ending in getting the original.

I used to try the original by the "non-common" way ("thanks" to the publishers not doing demos as used to be), then brought the game before it appeared on GOG when made sure it works well (I never thought it would come here, sadly). foxgog's breakdown is well. Personally I do think there should be more choice offered on GOG, the original should be available to everybody, big and small.

Yeah, it sucks you can't buy the original Doom 3 on GOG with the original gameplay. Not that BFG Edition is bad, it's just also a different experience.

Not to be too particular, but the original edition and the Legendary Edition of Skyrim are not quite the same thing. The original was only the base game. Legendary Edition was all the dlc (Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn), some fixes/updates to the base game, a higher difficulty level and the base game combined as one package.

(The many versions of Special Edition, aka Skyrim64, are a story unto themselves.)

Agree that the original and Legendary versions have a harsher, bleaker lighting/atmosphere. Also agree that the 64 bit versions seem more stable.

Anyone with more/better information, feel free to correct any part of this.