New Skyrim mod turns Bethesda's RPG into the "ultimate" MMO I've always wanted by transforming NPCs into real players
Skyrim, meet Red Dead Online rolepaying
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Of all the various ways to enjoy Skyrim out there, from a heavily modded PC experience to one on the go via Switch 2, I've always wanted the ability to play it with other Elder Scrolls fans – and, now, it seems I've got one thanks to Keizaal Online.
Sure, we've got Skyrim Together already – but I've been yearning for an online multiplayer experience that feels more akin to something like The Elder Scrolls Online… an MMO, but not quite as big or large-scale. That's what Keizaal Online, as spotted by TheGamer, appears to offer, allowing players to step into the shoes of iconic NPCs.
A mind-boggling trailer lets us take a look at the mod, and impressed would be an understatement on my part.
The capacity for immersive roleplaying – whether around the fire in The Bannered Mare or in battle with the Imperials – seems to be off the charts. It's like a hilariously chaotic, almost surreal mashup of Red Dead Online and Skyrim… something I never thought I'd say.
As per the official Keizaal Online website, everything unfolds in a "synchronized, persistent Tamriel" – a Tamriel that currently boasts over 600 active players, too.
Keizaal Online's creators dub it "the ultimate Skyrim multiplayer roleplaying experience," and I'm honestly inclined to believe them. Once again, there are no NPCs – everything is run by the players themselves, something I've never experienced in "official" MMOs like The Elder Scrolls Online (as fun as I may find them).
Trading happens between players as well, so no, we can't just keep running back and forth to Belethor.
Perhaps most excitingly, we can sign up to play now (just make sure you own the Special or Anniversary Edition of the game) – and the full release is also coming soon. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a public playtest to participate in… and many spells to cast.
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After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.
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