Console Storage Gets a Boost, PC Stability Takes the Hit
The 1.7.99 patch primarily increases mod storage limits for consoles. PlayStation 5 and Xbox now support up to 15 GB of mod content, alongside various Creations improvements and bug fixes.
Despite these console-centric changes, PC players face potential instability. Bethesda itself acknowledges that updates like this one can disrupt existing mod setups, even when the changes are meant for a different platform entirely.
This Has Happened Before
Bethesda says this specific patch should not affect load orders, yet the studio still advises players to back up their saves as a precaution. That warning carries weight because it’s not the first time.
The original Anniversary Edition update in 2021 broke mod compatibility in a big way. That patch altered the game’s Papyrus scripting language, which led to widespread failures across script-based mods. Players who lived through that update know exactly why a “should not affect load orders” disclaimer isn’t enough reassurance on its own.
How to Lock Your Game Version
PC players can prevent unwanted updates from breaking their setups entirely. Both Steam and GOG offer ways to lock the game version in place, which matters more than it sounds. Unexpected auto-updates can silently overwrite manual downgrades and break an entire load order without warning. This applies to both Skyrim Special Edition and Anniversary Edition.
On Steam
Steam users can block updates by modifying a single game file:
- Locate your Steam installation directory, then navigate to the
steamappsfolder - Find the file named
appmanifest_489830.acf - Right-click the file and select Properties
- Check the “Read-only” box under the General tab and click OK
This stops Steam from writing update data to the file, effectively freezing the current game version in place.
On GOG Galaxy
GOG Galaxy users have a more direct route through the client itself:
- Open GOG Galaxy and select Skyrim from your library
- Click the “More” menu next to the “Play” or “Update” button
- Choose “Manage installation,” then “Configure…”
- In the dialog, go to the “Installation” tab
- Uncheck “Automatically update to newest version” and confirm with OK
This stops GOG Galaxy from downloading future updates silently. Skyrim VR players can skip these steps entirely, since no further updates are expected for that version.
Other Fixes in This Release
Beyond the mod storage changes, the update officially released by Bethesda also patches several crashes and bugs, including a crash on Steam Deck that occurred when opening the virtual keyboard.
For anyone running a stable modded playthrough right now, freezing your game version is a small step that protects hours of setup work from being undone by an update meant for a completely different platform.
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