According to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim developers, werewolves were originally designed as dog head-having humans. The seminal role-playing game celebrated its 10th anniversary several weeks ago, a celebration that came complete with yet another re-release. Dubbed Skyrim Anniversary Edition, the new version packs in the Special Edition and a host of Creation Club content.
Players who purchase or upgrade to the Anniversary Edition also gain access to enhancements that improve graphics and speed up loading times. Furthermore, Bethesda Game Studios threw in several new features that weren’t previously available in past editions of the 10-year-old experience. Such additions include fishing mechanics and an immersive Survival Mode that should prove challenging to even the most seasoned Skyrim players. Developers have found other ways to celebrate the milestone year as well, one of which includes participating in an hour-long documentary that’s unleashed a few previously unknown details about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s development.
In a documentary entitled You’re Finally Awake, Character Artist Jonah Lobe (via PC Gamer) spoke with over half a dozen fellow Skyrim developers to recount the ins and outs of production. One bit in the documentary features details on the original concept for werewolves, which involved adding a dog head to a human body. World Artist Nate Purkeypile noted the absurdity, saying people were to fear such a thing; meanwhile, races like the Khajiit walked around freely. Skyrim Character Artist Dennis Mejillones went to bat for traditional werewolf traits and received pushback due to concerns that the playable creature “would break a lot of shit.” It did, of course, but showing Game Director Todd Howard proof of concept for the werewolf provided Mejillones the in-house ally he needed.
Still, the implementation of werewolves knocked a few things loose. For example, werewolves running at full speed hindered Skyrim’s ability to load surrounding areas. To combat the issue, an animator named Jeremy Bryant altered the camera zoom for players to make it look as though the creature moved at high speeds. Thus, The Elder Scrolls V’s werewolves were born.
Werewolves in the franchise date back to The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall; the lycanthropes returned in Morrowind’s Bloodmoon expansion, then received a new lease on life in the 2011 entry. To become a werewolf in Skyrim, players must complete quests for The Companions and attend a ritual ceremony wherein Aela the Huntress’ beast form provides the blood the Dragonborn needs to drink.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is available to play now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S platforms.
